The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-19
SWITZERLAND.

SWITZERLAND.
In describing The battle ground o. the present struggle
Switzerland, ia boundary side, cannot b. ed
particularly in tie course OF the war, twta adisg
the guaranteed "perpetua neutrality" OF u territory
,be helgtrent Powers when pressed by har1 necessity
may take advantage Il its mountains and passes march
spo man9uvIe against each other Ia tho FIRST French
yoniion taken military possession Of by the French
republic, which sc lated its uccessfn operations Italy
In the emept OF this war the Swiss 60
vernment demanded from b 9th France and Austria
peoee TO treat tic swiss territory neutral according
tho treaty of Vienna. Louis Napoleon replied that in
would he violate the neutrality The Austrian EN-
psror the contrsry said what he intended to would
all "depend the good behavior Of Switzerland. Bold
words considering that the Swiss his frontier thai
the Hapsburgs their ancient enemies and tia. the
Helvetc republic march SO 900 into the plains
below which, naIs would BIO decisive OF the contest
considering what kind Of troops those hardy channels hunt
ngnounaneers are, With their unerrng rifles. Swt1er,
land aid France lie together the side of the
Aps-swiizer and the north and France the south
just Piedmont and Lombardy do tbs east
ern side-Piedmont lying 10 the south, and Lombardy
the north. Swizerland therefore, right opposite 10
Lombardy. she has been armng for some tine-thougn
she says ia only TO maintain her own neutrality.
The greatest length Of Switzerland from
Its figure is nearly that Of right sngled triangle. It's
has bean vsriousy estimated 900 to 900
square miles. is bounded on the north by Germany
II thoroughly mountainous country, thirds OF its
territory consisting Of Alps. Two Of tho principal
rivers Of Europe, the Rhine and the Rhons rise It's
limits. 1t Is famous for the stand made BY William Tell
and bis competriots against Geser tho Austrian tyrant
Never has greater herosm been exhibited in the world
than by the old Swiss.
The population ,S9l 49, o. which majority arc Of
the CalvinisAc creed Of Scotland. Calvin was born In
Geneva.
Nocoury in the world boast such scenery or suuh
strange contrasts. The summs Of s granite mountains
are hidden the clouds and covered with eternal snow
Beyond certain height vegetation, living thing
ever Below the valleys glow with tho rays
and TEEN with fruits and gran all kinds Of vegetable
fe IL the country Of avalanchss, which ready 70
fall by the OF the foot the EARTH by the sound
Of the human voice, and often carry destruction to the
plains The Swiss Alps have been well described in these
lines
The palaces Of nature, whose vast walls
Have plnnacied in clouds their snowy scaps,
Ana ihT0ned Eternity in icy has
or cold subimity, whers forms and fails
The avalanche-the thunderboit Of SNOW
All that expands the spirit, yet appais,
Gather round these summits as If 10 snow
How h pierce To heaven, yet leave man below
The Hcivstic republic, like own, is oonfederscy
they called II is the only republic Europe tha, do
serves the name, aud the synpsthes of the American
people will be naturally with in this cris.s Our apprs.
tensions will also be awakened for its safety 10
it cannot be denied that IL 10 in great peril 30.
tween The contcndng despos. Tue hand O.
nature has marked out nst country for the citadel Of
rope where freedom might be safely lodged when driven
nom less secure regions But unforun ateiy the spns
and senshness Of i during It's modern bis,
tory, and its quarres about religion owing TO dersc in
It's constitution, have afforded just grounds for gloomy
forebodpgs about its fate.
The Helvetic republic just he what the conederaoy
Of the American colonies before the constitution was
framed. Both sprang from necessty-mutual protection
against common foe. The Swiss was formed by slow
degfeestrst one canton taken in and then another
The American colonies contederaed almost together The
necessity for more intimate union consolidation was
felt by the fathers OF our Revolution and
Of the United States the result The SWISS neglected
refused this union There such thing rights
Of citizen Of the confsderacy being the same in all
States any provision rendering sry that
each State should have republican of government
The general government has the necessary poser
posses ed by OURS and i requirements always caus
ing make encroachmens the rights Of the cantons
which they recent by going to the opposite ex-
trems Even the army il limited in war 70
hampers the government and Congress Tor Diet as il
caeo consisting OF two deputies elected for three years
from each canton, from which arrangement the more
populous states cannot outvote the smaller The Hell
veto republic has standing army, but keeps time
of peace nucleus Of eco 800 In of war
the confederscy raises federal amy whose strength Is
fixed by population 1t is now about $4,000 man. IL
1851 the regular army was $4,000, and the reserve
s6o0O--n al los COO men. Every Switzerland is
solder Each canton contributes contingent in men
and money in proportion 10 It's population. 1t is called
Switzerland from the canton OF Schwyz weitz tbs
principal Of the three rst which formed the original con
federacy. There is no public debt in Switzerland 1t
owed 5000 900 in 1914 which has long STAGE paid on
II Is calculated hat rom 80 900 to 10000 Swiss troops
employed the service of foreign sates But they
liable TO be called home time Of danger the
when the King OF Prussia few years ago, prepared
70 march on Neufohate OF the cAntoas Of which he
claimed sovereignty. or this Canton William Procs
OF Orange who became King OF England 1885, then
sovereign, and the sovereignty was inherited by
nephew, Frederick I. Of Prussia; aud il was q curious
phenomenon that the great kings Of Prussia we're Obliged
10 swear to the constitution of this little country
though q canton Of Switzerland. In lS4s it declared
its independence Of the Prussian King who, however
did acquesce in the revolution, but the contrary
when the revolutionary spirit Europe suosded took the
exciting OF tue pOpuAu0n 10 revolt,
in have for chastsing the whole The
revolt put down. but the Prusan troops were put
in motion when all Switzerland few arms. BY the medi
alton Of England and France the collision prevented
the last moment Austria constant influence
this republic, and Keeps 1t in terror. Its safety de-
pepds the mutual jealousy of France Austria, and
other Powers But how long that may be It is uncer.
tain. II Austria and France become friends and allies.
would her fate be seaed and that would be the last
Of the republics Of Europe This fear has suggested the
following lines Of an iustrious poet
The name Of com nonwc cath Is past and gone
Ger the three fractions Of the grooming giobe
Venice il crushed, and Holland degns TO own
sceptre, and endures the purple rope;
II the free Swtzsr yet bestrides alone
His chan'ees mountains It's out for q Time,
For tyranny of late 10 cunning ero~n,
And in its own good season trAmpes down
The spar klee OF ashes One great CLINE,
Whose vigorous offspring BY dividing ocean
Are kept apart and nursed IN the devotion
or freedom, VIII ch their fathers fought for, and