New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-20

The conflict between Prussia and Switzerland is
but new representation Of an old story. 1t is
roy atty contendirg against the democratic people,
the divine right of kings against the natural rights
of man. Switzerland is now purely democratic.
Patrcian privileges no longer exist. The events Of
1881, lS47 and 1913 have raised all classes Of the
people to political equality. The consequence is
that the practical administration of the Government
has passed into tn, hands Of men who formerly
would have been counted among the lower ranks.
The msorities in the Councils of the Cantons and
in the General COancil Of the Federation are CON-
posed of peasants and burghers of small means.
Staempfi, now the head Of the Government, and
for twenty years past tue leader of the Radical
party, is email farmer, and is proud of it, and the
same may be said Of several of his colleagues. No
doubt this fact stimulates the insolence Of Prussian
rOyalist professions. Were conservative, patri-
clan, King-adoIiDg Executive now In charge of
alta rs at Berne, his Majesty of Berlin would be
much more disposed TO concession and good nature.
In sound logic the Federal Government cannot
release the royast cOnspirators without obtaining
an equivalent from the King of Prussia. Let him
abandon forever his childish claims to Neufchd EEL,
and the Imprisoned culprits may properly be dis
chareed but to give them up additionally at his
bidding or at that of European diplomacy, would
be dangerous precedent. It would be to admit
that Switzerland cannot deal with internal treason,
and would justify al future eonspiraces Of the
kind which has produced this duplication.
In justice to the more aristOcratc portion of the
Swiss people we must say that they offer no e1cep-
ton to the united front which the nation now pre-
sents. Patrcians, mobiles, conservatives of every
hue, noby merge whatever Of partisan feeling they
may retain, in the common effort for the safety,
honor and ndendence of the faith rland. THIS adj
mirable display Of patriotism evidently has its
efftc. on the surrounding Governments, and con-
tributes, along with the sense of universal danger
from d war, to the efforts they are making for the
preservation Of peace. Even Austria has greatly
modified the naughty and dictatoral tone she as
sumed at the beginning, and, like the others, now
seeks TO conchate where before she thought proper
to use intimidation.
We learn from a well-;nformed source that the
Intervention Of Mr.. Fay, the American Minister at
Berne was not Official, and in compliance with H.
stIuctons from Washington, but what is called
ofciOus, or in his personal capacity. Whether the
basis of settlement which he proposed was a wise
one we shall not here undertake 10 decide, but the
spirit of tie step was which the country cannot
fail 70 approve. No American, whose heart is not
corrupted or petIifed, could behold unmoyed the
approach of such war az that now threatened, or
could fail to express with all possible emphasis the
sympathy which he must feel for the gallant Re-
pubicans Of Switzerland. Mr.. Fay has done this,
and we cordially thank him for it-and all the more
that be has met with the Indifference il merited
piece of petty spite with which Austria sought to
pay off the debt of the old Hulsemann and KoIzta
notifications. When Mr.. Fay proposed media
ton Of the diplomatic corps az Berne, the Austrian
representative refused TO take part in It, on the
ground that the United States must be excluded
from European concerns This rebuff, we are
happy to say, produced change in the conduct of
our Minister; and whatever may now happen
whether the controversy ia settled through war
or, So the intelligence by the America at H .lifax
more than incnes US TO believe, through peace-we
trust that the Swiss nation will have to feel
that the support of the American people has been
with them throughout.
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