The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1866-12-27
Correspondence Of the New York Observer.
One Pure Democracy and how it
Works.
swlrarnLANn. Ane. Is. ia6e.

c"AASS'NLAshl aug So AcUps H
80 ignorant was | of the forms Of
government existing in this part of the
world, ! did not know that six out Of
the the twenty-five Cantons, or States
OF Switzerland, are purely democratic
in their government 1t is true that
this is modified, in a measure, by their
confederation with the others, and that
they have delegated to their general
government the power OF declaring war,
ooining money and regulating system
Of mails. And, by the way, postage is
cheaper in Switzerland than any country
was ever in: five ccntimes, or one
cent of our money, conveyinga a letter
anywhere within the country, and, in
all the villages and cities, delivering it
at the residence OF the receiver These
several Cantons are, in other matters,
independent of each other, and, in times
long past, have had feariully bloody
wars among themselves. ST. Gall is at
the foot of the hill! five miles below me,
and is in a canton Of that name. Up
here / am in Canton Appenzell. The
road down the hill has run with blood,
like water, in the fights between the
people of these two Cantons. They are
at peace now, but from father to son is
handed down the story Of the wars.
This Canton, containing population
OF about $4,000, is a simple democracy,
and as primitive and pure as ever could
have existed in the earliest days of
Greece or Rome, before an 0ligarchy or
a monarchy was known. Here the
people, all the males over eighteen years
old, actually assemble, personally, and
in one place, to choose the necessary
officers, and to make their own laws.
This popular meeting is held in April
every year, and on Sunday always.
On that day there is no preaching in
any church in the Canton, except the
one where the election is held. All the
ministers come here with the people.
Al the close Of the morning service, the
election is opened by prayer, and then
the people proceed to the discharge Of
this serious duty, the act Of their indi-
vidual sovereignty. Every man wears
asword by his side, token Of his being
freeman; for, centuries ago, when
serfdom prevailed, only .freemea could
vote, and they wore swords Now all
wear swords ON election day, for all are
free.
The Canton is not so large but that
they can all come and return on the same
day, and, for the most part, they come
on foot, 1t is expected that they will
all come. And where the power of
voting is equally distributed in this way,
and every man feels that he is an equal
part of the government, there is little
danger of any ones staying away, who
is physically able to come. They meet
sometimes in one place, and sometimes
in another, but mostly in this village Of
Trogen, on the public square. Here a
platform is erected, aud the officers
chosen last year conduct the proceed
ings The landeman, or chief, presides,
and the clerk announces the name of
any one nominated for public Office.
All in favor hold up their right hands,
All opposed then do the same. If there
is any doubt, count would be rcsorted
to, but that is never necessary. Office
is not sought with any great rapacity,
and the people are not divided into par
ties fighting for the spoils. The several
officers thus elected are charged with
the execution of the laws. A council is
appointed, which meets, from time to
time, in the State House here, and con-
suits in regard to the internal affairs of
the Canton. If any new Legislation is
necessary, they frame the law, put it
into print, and a copy Of it is then
placed in every house in the entire Can
ton. 1t is not yet law it is thus
distributed that the people, who are the
law makers, may examine it, talk it
over among themselves and make up
their minds as to its expediency, If it
is of importance sufficiently pressing to
require immediate action, meeting of
the people may be held four weeks after
the law has been proposed; but gener-
ally thisis avoided by having the meas
ures submitted to the annual assembly
in April. Then the law is submitted to
the mass meeting, and they vote for or
against it, by the uplifted hand, As
ample time has been given to the peo-
pie to discuss the matter, there is no
call for long speeches, nor would they
be tolerated by an assembly that was
bound to break up and get home the
same night. And the laws thus adopted
are put in force by the magistrates ap-
pointed by the popular vote, and often
at the same time that the laws them
selves are adopted.
Among the principal cares of such
officers must be the construction and
repairs OF the highways. o that our
American people would send commits
sioner OF their country pathmasters over
here! Within the last four years two
Of these Cantons, not so large, and not
q tenth-no, not twentieth part so
rich as Wcschester and Duchess coun-
ties, in New York, have built n road
along the eastern side of Lake Lucerne,
that would do honor to Napoleon in the
days of bis mightiest power. For miles
it Is cut into the edge of solid rock,
which esthe bed Of the road, and
parapet; sometimes it is tunnel, and