The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-01-16
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
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Frssay adsFuins, January 10, iso ..-~.
switxcriand.

y Il.
The immipence Of she war between s"nl s,,
ana Prvss,s eIiciss much speculation - 70 'ne ~o'
III Of Switzerland 10 resst. Is ssrens'a 80.
Ia liz natural ramparts, those nose IA =.
which rise 10 the centre OF Eufops $500
hance 70 an invader, and In ", -, !.
strong arms of two millions Oh ~.
deocs loving and wariike peop,e ~
The army Of Switzerland eenSas~ "
and eieh, thousand capital troops ous tue "ho'e
nation are more or less soldiers TWO millions oa
such people would be match tor ten m'iho'
which Is not very far from the nuraber OF TIE
whole population of Prussia. The ffussians'
however are also = military people, military
power being the corner stone of the greatness ana
security of that country, and even the civil gov
eminent is pervsded by . military spirit, oeins
carried on by officers in regular gradations' "no
execute the orders received from their superiota-
The population of Prussia is about fifteen millions
The army consists of $4,000 men, two hunorto
thousand Of which are regular troops Inc res
main6er are Laadsrshr national militia, composed
however, Of men who have served in the s'anains
army, and can be made quite as efficient as regu-
lar soldiers. Every Prussian is Obliged 10 serve
three years in the standing army, between LIS
seventeenth and twepty-third year; from tna'
time TO thirty in the first class of Lardwenr winch
is frequently and thoroughly drilled; from 'nii'S
TO forty, in the second class OF Landwehr, Which,
Is only called upon in war, and then tor ioc@i VI
provincial service. Prussia is therefore gfea'
military power, and it may be said VIII h'e' 81
truth that every man in it is soldier. Inc ois'
cpiine of the Prussian army is admitted 70 De IN
surpassed, if equalled, by that OF any army OF
Europe.
But the Swiss have their mountains, and free
dom has been their birthright for many genera
lions The Romantic language of portion OF
Switzerland shows that the fierce masters OF the
old world once planted their conquering eagles on
the almost inaccessible pinnacles of that noun.
famous land. The Northern and largest part OF
Switzerland was afterwards subjugated Dy Inc
Franks, and the whole country became portion
of the Franksh empire. After its suosequen.
union to Germany, the power which the house OF
Hapsburg acquired in Helvetia was SO abused oy
branch of that house that the Swiss rose in resist
ance, formed a confederacy Of Swiss cantons' anu
after war of seventeen years. achieved an ihoepeh
dence which they have ever since for near
preserved. Various attempts have been maze 10
conquer these sturdy mountaineers, but Win u'i
form failure. On one occasion, lighting in one OF
their strongbolds 1000 Swiss withstood 20,ooo
French. They have furnished soldiers to all Eu-
rope, mercenaries it is true, but mercenaries who
earned their wages by such valor and devotion as
the world has never seen surpassed. The Swiss
furnished for the French service alone fromIouis
XII. to Louis XIV, l,ll0,793 men.
Switzerland will have the best sympathies OF
America in any war which may occur between
Prussia and the Mountain Republic on such an
issue AZ the former has raised. She has the right
TO try and punish the monarchial conspirators OF
Neufchatel, and we trust she will assert it IN the
teeth of all the despots of the old world.