New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-09-16
ELECTION RIOTS m sNsTZEH.
LAND.

Sinc0 the suppression Oh the oW"efV"""i z"
combination Of seven Catholic oantons against
the Federal authority, Switzerland has been en-
Toying profound quiet The grave conno-
lions which have agitated the rest Of Europe
have lofl her undisiurbed, and the little Repnb-
lie bss como to DC looked upon, not only as tho
frccst, bat az the happicst Of European coun'
tries. Recently. the long peace has been i'tcf'
rupted IN the canton Of Geneva by election rlots,
which, but for the prompt Interference of the
Federal authorities, might hayo assumed very
serious character.
20 understand The character and bcaring OF
these riots, we haso to look at the canton in
which they occurred. aud Its recent political
history. The canton of Geneva consists Of The
thriving city Of Genera, and some country di"-
trcis, which, before islst, belonged 10 Sardinia
Until 1915 Geneva was "a thoroughly Protestant
city; but the acquisition Of some country lis
trcts, which were exclusively inhabited hy Cath.
olics, and the continuous immigration rom
! Italy and France Of servants. mechanics, and
other classes, has gradually so changed, MINER
ically, the relation OF the religious denomina-
ticls, that the city Of Calvin has now become
the capital Of q prodominantly Catholic canton;
for, according TO tho ccnsu. Of 1900, the Catho-
lies number 42.c99. snd ths Professionals only
40, go souls.
At tho time Of the soaSe5,pad var, The Coy
eminent of Geneva was in tho hands cf tho Con-
sentative Party, which WIS opposed to tho use
OF cOercre inca 'ures against tho cauttns forming
The SosderInzd Tic rule OF tho Conservative
party was oyer,hTown by an instruction, a, The
head OF which was NJ. James Fay, one Of The
Young rising politicians Of the canton. Having
gained power, Mr.. Fay causei the adoption OF
an utra-radical constitution, and he he ever
since remained At tho head Of the radical party.
The electoral contests In the canton have always
been attended with tho greatest excitement.
Is the leaders Of tho Conservative Parry were
ardent Proteslant3, Mr.. Fay, justly apr ein-
ting the political importance OF the increasing
Catholic population, know how TO enlist thcr
interest and 70 ally them with The radcal party.
This movement, however, Is we'll 80 hispoHonal
haliis--he is notorious gsn,blar-and tho
disastrous financial rcsults oI bis policy. eGdfed
the detection Of large number OF the best men
of bis parry, who on several occariona. allied
themselves with the Conservatives and organized
an Independent party, which repeatedly fused
with The Conservatives.
Such fu ION took place. also, on th. eist OF
August, Vheua new mcinberfor the State Corn
cil had 10 10 elected. vhe manss nent
Of tho election was, in accordance with the
law, in;rustey TO on Electoral Committee OF
twenty -soven members, o. whom twcniy-siK axe
chosen by lot, aud the twcniy.seyentb ID noIni-
mated by the Council and is President. IL 30
happened on lhis occasion, that seventeen Of The
twenty-seven members Of Tie Electoral Com
mttce were Radicals, and only ten either Con
servaiives or members OF tho Independent party
The candidates for tho vacant scat in the
Council were Mr.. Fay, and Mr. Cbeneylorc, n
Conservative. The result Of tho scrutiny alter
the day Of election showed thnt. on, Of Il,Ol1
valid votes given, NJ. Chenevrre had received
5,G77 or a1nGjority of 337 over M Fay. But tho
Electoral Committee, nevertheless, dcolarcd Lis
election invalid. THIS naturally ineonscd the
adhorents of the successful candidate, who re-
paired in great numbers to tho Hoid de IUe 10
demand That the State Council should agnul the
decision OF the Electoral Committee. This tho
Council declared they had no POKER to do, but
they agreed to have the actual numbers officially
announced. In the meanwhile, tho adherents
Of Fay had broken open ono Of the Arsenals
aud supplied themselves with arma, and fred
upon crowd Of Independents who accom-
panied Tie Cominis.ary Of Police announc-
ing the results of the election. The lndepcDd-
ents in their turn broke open another arsenal,
and there WAS q severe fight between them and
the Radicals.
Tie Council Of State having invoked the In
tervenlion OF the Federal Council the hide
pendents determined TO await the arrival Of q
Federal cominissary. In the night from the 2sdto
the 2;;l, the Federal Councillor, Fornerod, with
Col. BOrman, arrived at Geneva. The appear
ance Of Federal troops soon restored quiet, and
the people Of Geneva seem to await With com
posure the legal decision on the recent vote.
The liberal papers of the European countries
generally warn the people Of Geneva against
such tumults as these A similar conyulsioh Of
the French Republic euaiced to call forth Glc
establishment Of an empire. Repeated dis
orders in any Of the cantons might ea7ly fur-
nisb to the French Emperor o ,rotcxt far ipltr-
ference and anneS elion,