The New York herald., 1873-10-18
Protest Addressed to the High Swiss
Confederation Against the
Russian Action.
THE RUSSIANS aMODIFY." ;"
The Zurich Protest Supplied by the Gov
ernment to the Correspondent
Of the Herald.
Un de Nos Messieurs a st. Petersburg Fait
Uns Betisf, VOLTA Tout.

ZURICH, Sept 8, 1873
Ihad asked the clerk at the United States con-
sulate in Zurich II he could get me copy OF the
protest made by the local authorities OF the canton
against the Russian ukase, or whether he could
put me in the way OF getting it. He answered that
the Consul had requested him to obtain this docu
ment some time ago, as he wanted 1t for the Amer
lean Minister; but that ne had been unable to
succeed in obtaining either copy or an inspection
Oft.
got the paper. nevertheless, before had been
twelve hours in Zurich; and, think. / could have
found out the contents OF any similar diplom attic
document when was in Russia, but am sure that
should have owed my success to private friendship
and in no sense to my official position; whereas
got copy OF the Zurich protest before publication
simply by asking for it as special correspondent to
the NEW YORK HERALD, and by means OF such per-
suasion as could put into my talk with an Official
gentleman whom only saw during i've minutes
for the first time in my life.
No government is or can be served as the press
is served. Perhaps no government cares to be as
well served. Here is the document, which has
probably only yet been seen by the writer and the
Russian Envoy at Berne. enclose 1t in original
and translation for the readers of the NEW YORK
HERALD. 1t was given me by the President of the
Governing Council OF the Canton Of Zurich, very
courteous gentleman and an able Minister
Protest.
To THE COUNCIL OF THE HIGH SWISS CoNFEDERA-
ExCELLENcIEs-By your favor OF the 9th ult. you
announce the receipt OF a telegram from the SWISS
Consul at st. Petersburg. according TO which those
Zurich OF at the Polytechnic School of the Swiss
Confederation are desired to return to their own
country at the latest, by the lst oi January 1874
Those who refuse compliance with this demand VIII,
on their return to Russia neither be suffered to
pass any examination nor to undertake any public
office, nor Will they even be received in any educa
tionaI establishments The imperial Russian Official
gazette fRuSsiScleT StddtSdnzei0eJ OF st. Peters
burg No. l20), represents this measure as being
necessitated by the evil reports which are said to
have become worse and worse, concerning the
conduct OF the Russian ladies resident IN Zurich.
have chosen Zurich as the centre OF their
revolutionary activity and have drawn their
young countrywomen into their :. nets, SO
secondary object. and even that some OF these
women and girls are employed in distributing se-
country. 1t further alleges that the Russian
ladies residing in Zurich have incurred the dislike
OF the Inhabitants and that the life led by some Of
the former is by no means above suspicion-nay,
that some among them devote themselves es-
peclally to tnat branch OF obstetrics which I'm
tion OF crime which In all countries Is punishable
by the penal code, and which every right-minded
You will readily conceive that. for the honor of
the University OF Zurich and thai OF Its professors,
such allegations puDISneQ IN an OIucldI paper,
cannot be passed over in silence, and therefore we
have not omitted to consult with our academical
senate respecting the heavy charges said
to have been brought against our highest educa-
tional establishment. We beg to lay before you the
following concise refutation OF these groundles5
accusations, adding request that you VIII trans
init the former, in whatever form may seem TO you
most fitting, TO the Russian government and in
duce 1t to reconsider It's order and 10 cause
those charges, in SO far as they concern our Uni
versity, TO be recalled in the very paper in which
they hrst appeared. We cannot refrain from ex-
bsfore pubpsher the nKase aid nd sepv
tu our magistrates in the diplomatic manner GUS
tomary among allied nations for positive ofiicai in
formation. We are unacqualnted WITH the origin
OF the reports detailed in the st. Petersburg
paper; but this much Is certain, that no inquiry
whatever concerning the Russian ladies studying
at our university reached our academlcal and edu-
catiOnal authorities.
You are aware that the University of Zurich, diff
fering in this respect from most German universal
ties does not possess special tribunal, but the
maintenance OF discipline limited power belongs
to the academic authorities. Our students are
subject to the same laws other citizens and the
private life OF the former is not under any further
control. save that expressly mentioned In the
statutes OF the University or the political attempts
OF the students the university takes note. 1t is
not called upon to Judge OF the truth Of the report
which, apparently, has been made 10 the imperial
government respecting the immigration OF Russian
political refugees nor OF the influence which sucn
an Immigration might have upon the students;
nor have the authorities as yet had occasion to in
teriere, from political or other reasons, with any
OF the Russian ladies' VINO are studying here.
AOTeOVeT, Tue ldttef, anu lHuetu, no foreigners,
are suffered to matriculate unless they
can produce certificate OF moral conduct
from magistrate OF their own country, which
must be also verified by the Imperial Russian
Ambassador. With regard, however, to their
special position students, the academic authori-
ties would never hesitate TO assert the right
granted them by the statutes OF the University or
calling the students 70 account should breach OF
discipline OF any kind, or immoral conduct their
part, come to the Official knowledge OF those in
authority; and the Directors OF the University
believe they have never been guilty OF neglect in
this particular.
The allegations set forth in the Omcia, Gazette
OF St. Petersburg especially the Implication that
by means OF the instruction given In our Lyingin-
Hospital students are learning criminal and
infamous trade, cannot but excite indignation and
regret Considering the reproach that In the eyes
OF the ignorant this statement must cast upon the
instruction given In our hospital, one might have
expected that such declaration would not have
been published In an onicial journal without Prev.
Gus notice having been given 10 the Directors OF
the Hospital, and consequent inquiries as 10 the
truth OF the report having been made.
Apart, however, from our University. whose
members would consider II beneath their dignity
to waste single word In defending themselves
against such unmerited obloquy, we believe the
Imperial Russian government, In justice to It's
own subjects, must allow that correction, In
many points OF the communication, contained In
the above mentioned paper s demanded. Although,
among the Russian ladies studying In Zurich,
there are certainly some who do not pursue their
studies as seriously and as diligently as Sould be
desirable, and who therefore, without having
hitherto by q violation Of our statutes incurred q
penalty, do not enjoy the esteem of their proies-
sors nor that Of the Inhabitants OF this town and
whose departure from our University will afford
us much satisfaction, yet IT must be acknowle dyed
that these ladies are exceptions.
There are, 10 our certain knowledge, many Rus
sian women and girls residing In Zurich to whom
the description In the st. petersburg paper cannot
apply, and who, therefore, are most unJustIy Inn
pllcated in that universal accusation. These lady
students are distinguished for their Industry and
moral conduct; they have acquired much valuable
knowledge OF several sciences-at least Of medi-
cine and lts collateral branches, and by their whole
conduct have won the esteem OF their instructors.
They have hitherto been a credit TO their
country and Will be so In future, even
n the Russian government suffers them to
continue their studies in Zurich We consider
II our duty TO dwell upon these iacts 10 that the
heavy accusations, wnicn the Oglctal gazette has
suspended over all the Russian ladies' who are
studying here, may not remain uncontradicted,
and at the same time TO Indicate the motives
which have induced the University OF Zurich not 10
abandon the task OF practically solving the great
social question OF the present day as 10 the capa
city OF women for scientific studies and scientific
occupations.