The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-06-24
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TIE BATTLE OF sEmPACH.

Nothing in history has been more remark
able than the union of the cantons and cities
of the little republic of Switzerland. OF
differing races, languages, and latterly, cv-
en- religions, unlike in habits, tastes, opin-
ions, and costumes, they have, however,
been held together, as it were, by pressure
from without and one spirit of patriotism
has kept the little mountain republic COM
plete for five hundred years.
Originally the lands were fiefs of the Ho-
ly Roman Empire, the city municipalities
owning the Emperor for their lord; and the
great family of Hapsburg, in whom the EN-
pi~e became at length hereditary, was in re-
ality Swiss, the county that gave them title
lying in the canton of Aurgau. Rodoh of
Hapsburg was elected leader of the burghers
of Zurich; lo-g before he was chosen to the
Empire; and he confined Swiss in heart,
retaining his mountaineer's open simplicity
and honesty to the end of his life. Privil-
egss were glanted by hum to the cities and
the mobiles, and the country was loyal and
prosperous in his reign.
His son Albert, the same who has slain by
his nephew Johann, as before mentioned,
permitted those tyrannies of his bailiffs
which goaded the Swiss to their celebrated
revolt, and commenced the long series OF
wars with the House of Hapsburgi or, as il
was now termed, of Austria; which finally
established their independence.
On the one side, the Dukes of Austril
and their ponderous German ehivalry, want
cd to reduce the cantons and cities to vas
salage, not to IL Imperial Crown, distan
and scarcely felt obligation. but to the Duehy
of Austria; on the other, the hardy noun
tain peasants and stout burghers well knew
their true position, and were aware that Il
admit the Austrian usurpation would expos
their young men to be drawn upon for thu
Dukes wars. cause their property to b,
subject to perpetual rapacions exactions, and
fill their hills with castles for ducal bailiffs
who would be little better than licensed rob
bers. No wouder, then, that the generation
of William Tell and Arnold Melchthal be
queathed resolute purpose of resistance Il
their descendants.
1t was in 1897, ninety years since the frs
assertion of Swiss independence, when Leo
pold Handsome, Duke of Austria, bold bu
misproud and violent prince, involved him
self in one of the constant quarrels with tn,
Swiss that were always arising on accoun
of the insulting exactions of toll and tribut
in the Austrian border cities. A sharp wa
broke out, and the Swiss city of Lucern
took the opportunity of destroying the Aus
trian castle of Rothemburg, where the toll
had been particularly vexatious, and of ad
mitting to their league the cities of Sempacl
and Richensee-
Leopold and all the neighboring noble
united their forces. Hatred and contemI
of the Swiss, as low-born and presumption
spnrred them on; and twenty messenger
reached the Duke in one day, with promis
es of support, in his march against Sempac
and Lucerne. He had sent large force
the direction of Zurich with Johann Boz
stetton, and advanced himself with 4, 90
horse and ], 400 foot upon Sempach. II
rich undertook its own defence, and th
Forest Cantons sent their brave peasants
the support of Lucerne and Sempach, br
only to the number of 1900, who, on ii
9th of July, took post in the woods aroun
the little lake of Sempach. Meanwhile
Leopold's troops rode round the walls of II
little city, insulting the Inhabitants; one hOl'
ing up halter, which he said was for Il
chief magistrate; and another, pointing
the reckless waste that his comrades we
perpetrating on the fields, shouted, ''Send
breakfast to the reapers." The burgoma
ter pointed to the woods where his allies Ii
: hid. and answered, Ny masters of LucerI
; and their friends will bring it."
The story of that day was told by one
/: the burghers who fought in the ranks
4 Lucerne, shoemaker, named Albert Tch
: di, who was both brave warrior and
naster-singer; and as his ballad was traI
!. lated by another master-singer, Sir Wall
z Scott, and is the spirited record of an ey
= witness, we win quote from him some
r his descriptions of the battle and its gold
deed.
,r The. Dukes wiser friends proposed to W
8 till he could be joined by Bonstetten and
- troops who had gone towards Zurich, q
of the Baron Won Hasenberg q. z. hare-roC
y. strongly urged this prudent counsel; but
ae 81 % Hare Castle, thou heart of hareP
= Fierce Oxenstiern he cried,
10 Shalt see then how the game will fare,
d. The taunted knight replied"
''This very noon," said the youn
=, llnightto the Duke, sswe will deliver up
u you this handful of villains.
u ''And thus they to escn other said,
!, SYon handful down to hew
VIII be no boastful tale to tell,
- The peasants are so few. "
- Characteristically enough, the doug
cobbler describes how the first execut