Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-09-25
IFOr the Independentl
Montana Semper Liberl.

patriotic motto West Virgins chose
for herselfl AgHtdni semper Hberi
Auspieious words, yet mOuntaiueers'
are always free. She is justly named
The Switzerland Of America and,
in her chosen motto, she breathes
the spirit Of old Switzerland, which
for years, aye centuries, has with
stood all the Onslaughts Of Austria
and all her coalitions with other des-
potisms, to enslave aud subjugate her.
She is nOw-alwsys has been, and
ever will be free. Her sons are
bTaFe, poor, and live in the regions
of eternal snow. Their soil is sterile
aud entirely mountainous; for that
is the erpnd and picturesque eOun-
try, where tie mighty and ancient
Alps lift to. the very heavens their
sublime and ghttsring heads, speak
ing in unmistakabls language the
ragDi6ceDce and power of the great
81 ann
The SEitlers are happy and con-
tented, perhaps more so than any
other people on the globe. Why 2
What is the secret Of their happi-
ness2 Let US learn it, aud be happy
too. From the days when VIM.
Tell liberated his native land. no
power has been sufficient to rob her
Of Der liberty. She has. preserved
it pure and antEammsled at the price
of eternal vigilance. That, then is
the FIRST factor of her happiness,
They bslievs and act upon that OBJ
viOus truth so clearly, and uniquely
expressed by Cambell, 8
10 remember life can De
No charm for him who lives not free."
Next to their liberty. comes their
religion. They are nearly all CathO-
lics;. but they are nearly all highly,
moral and religious. They iuculcate
the lessons Of christianity to their
children, thus preparing then to be
useful members Of society.
The third element Of their content
is their industry, no people is more
laborious aa6. skillful than the Swiss
pcSsautry. A large portion Of the
Watches and jewelry worn by III
Christendom in manufactured In
Switzerland. They believe it is dis
honest to be idle; and if more gene
raj beliefin the same principle could
be more widely disseminated through
out the world, it would be one step
in the right direction.
They are perhaps the most patrio-
tic people that breathes the pure air
of heaven. They scarcely ever emf
crate from their mountain homes;
and when they do in youth to seek
fortune in q strange land, they
economy return in the MONDAY OF
prosperity to the banks Of their own
beloved RhOue, to spend the evening
of life amid the scenes Of their child
hood. So strong and Overpoweriog
is the love Of home. which dwells in
their breasts, that whole regiments
Of them have been known to desert
their foreign generals upon hearing
their national air.
But the final and most important
factor of their happiness is found in
their education. All Of them are
able at least to read and write, and
many are people Of fine mental cul
ture. This Of itself is amply suf-
6cient to render ordinary humans
comparatively eOnteuted. In, this as
in most other things, the SWitzers,
though living in the EXTREMIST power
ty, are an everlasting lesson to their
rich aud more fortunately, situated
bIethern.
How is it with he Switzerland of
America? She, too, is free. True
she has the glorious and imperish-
able record Of no Tell to emblazon
the Psges Of her history; but, then,
she needs none. She has been pos
sessed of liberty from the beginning,
and there is, and can be no externa
danger, which will vrssts it from
her, Fiber liberty ever perishes,
the crime will DO laid at the door Of
her own sons.
Her people are upon the whole
moral aDd religious-not to the high
dagree, however, as the SwitzerS Of
the old world. Here We have religion