The Nevada Democrat., 1861-03-07
THE SWISS REpunL1C.

~NN~@ANaN
the Oldest republic or confederation of free
States in Christendom. The acquisition of
Savoy by France has brought the latter ia
dangerous proximity to these mountain
Businesses, which form the key to nearly all
OF Southern Europe. Nor is the feeling be-
tween toe two nations of the most agree
able character. Petty disputes have for
some time been breaking out between them
and these are usually made to assume
magnitude out of all proportion to their
real Importance. But the Swiss have had
their internal discussions, which have been
settled Only on fields of bloody combat. 1t
is to these, with the agencies which created
them and the consequences to which they
gave rise. that we would more particularly
direct attention.
1t is nearly five centuries and half since
the renowned William Tell struck the blow
which ended in the independence of bis
country. But the heroes who won Morgan
ten did not possess much more than thou
sand square miles of territory, forming the
forest cantons of Schwytz, Uri and Inter-
walden. These formed the nucleus Of the
present republic occupying the almost in
accessible regions north Of the Mount st.
Gothard, in whose sides are found the sour
ces of the Rhine, the Rhone and the Ticino.
The region was an eagles nest, provided
by nature for the Matching of race of men
strong of limb, bold in action, and full of
enthusasm-just the qualities necessary to
win success in such an age as that. Victory
brought them allies, and during the ensuing
forty years the Confederation was Joined by
Luzerne, Zurich, Glaris and Berne. The
little State was repeatedly called to strug-
gle with nvaders-Austrians Burgundians,
Sardinians, French, Mlanese, and even
English; but at Sempach, Basle, Grandson,
Morat Nancy, &c, its sons vindicated lis
rights, and made it one of the most formid.
able powers in Europe. New cantons were
admitted, and at the close Of very severe
struggle with the Emperor Maximilan in
l499, the treaty Of Basic acknowledged the
unconditional independence of the Swiss
Confederacy. Fourteen years afterward,
the last of the old thirteen cantons was ad-
mtted.
1t was not however, career of glory
and conquest without any drawbacks. In
a controversy with the house of SAVOY the
republic was driven out Of possession above
the Lago Maggiore, on the Italian side of
the Alps, and these have ever since remain
cd with Piedmont. Then the monarchs of
Europe made treaties for liberty to obtain
recruits among the hardy mountaineers:
and these men, accustomed to the license of
the camp, soon corrupted the morals of the
State, which they dishonored as much by
their license as their fathers had honored by
their valor. Religious disputes formed an
| other element of dscord. The inhabitants
OF the cities and the lever districts adopted
the doctrine Of the Reformation; those of
the Forest Cantons, including the neuceus
OF the Republic, adhered to Rome. DISPUTES
came to blows; and in one of the engage
ments the brave Zwingle lost bis life. The
quarrel was renewed, and in time became
thoroughly sectional in character-the Pro-
testant North arrayed against the Roman
Catholic South. SO long and bitter was the
strife that II is believed Austria might have
intervened and conquered the country: but
the jealousy of other powers prevented her
from acquiring position of so much i'm
portanee, from which she might act against
all the neighboring States with safety TO
herself In l648, at the great European
Congress, the independence Of Switzerland
was formally recognized, France and Ger
many, with the smaller States, being un-
willing to surrender that key to Southern
Europe TO any other power
we pass by the disputes arising from ine-
quality Of taxation, at the beginning of the
last century, and the war of alteration
undertaken by the French at its close. For
time the country became in effect
French province. But Moscow aud Water
loo restored independence to these noun
taiDs; and the treaty of 1914 saw the limits
Of Switzerland further enlarged until they
included twenty-five cantOns, the present
number. 1t was not however, until 1880
that liberal constitution was framed. and
even that was destined to give way to the
present, adopted in l848. This was at the
close of another religious controversy. ari-
sing from determination of the Diet to
expel the Jesuits. Seven Of the upper can
tons formed League known as the Son
der6und, determined to resist the decree of
the National Council. Once more the two
factions came TO blows and in lS47 the Som
derbnnd troops were defeated at Friburg
and Luzerne, the consequence of which was
the expulsion Of the Jesuits, and the forma-
ton OF the present constitution. Excepting
the executive, which consists of a commilte
OF seven, chosen for three years by the 9TH
er councils, the general government bears
very close resemblace to that of this
country, and doubtless the result of our cx-
pertinent had much to do 10 modelling the