The Portland daily press., 1874-05-22
[From the London SPECTATOR
he New Constitution of Switzerland.

The changes in the Swiss Constitution, ac-
cepted on Sunday by double majority OF the
people, and threefold majority OF the can
tons, are most serious, and have evidently
two objects in view. One is to strengthen
the federal army. That army, though 1t has
performed some serious feats of arms, though
it nominally contains 100000 men, and is
fairly drilled, is too loosely organized for SUI
ficiently rapid action in great emergency.
The Central Government, sitting at Berne,
had, under the old constitution, no direct
power over the army until it was in the field,
the organization of each section and the
duty of forwarding it where commanded be
ing left absolutely with the cantons. These
powers are not withdrawn even now, ana
each canton can still use its own troops for
internal purposes; but the Canton Is mace
for military purposes entirely subordinate 10
the central power, which can now dictate or
oanization. take possession of mdteriet of
war and in fact, if it pleases, create as cea-
tralized a force as it has means to pay.
There can be no doubt whatever that this
new power, if wisely and moderately used,
will greatly increase the securities for the
independence OF Switzerland. Her army OF
100000 men would by itself he haid nut to
crack, for the Switzers are brave lighting
men, and the authorities at Berne would In
the event of war stand in this favorable po-
III.
by Germany OF France, and OF course would
be defended by either power innocent OF the
attack-by Germany because she could not
submit to see her flank so completely turned,
by France because the Swiss army would Iur-
nisb lust the iron spear head her own army
wants i'm conflict with the German army
Al the same time, the risk that the defender
would develop also into the ruler would be
ayerted by the dislike of strong powers to
hnnnlarV
the difficulty which either power, just eX-
hausted by conflict, would feelain encounter
ing a new army sure to fight well, and sure,
also. to occupy the most dangerous OF posi-
tioas. 1t is true that the neutrality OF Swift
,.erianG is guaranteed by Europe, but in these
davs guarantees do not count TOR much, and
the ability to inflict a serious blow on any
invader is much more tangible security.
Neither Germany nor France wants to lose
one hundred thousand men on the eve OF a
mighty duel, and Switzerland, if thoroughly
oreaniz,d. might employ at least that num-
ber. She becomes, in fact, fortress which
an assailant must carry, just when he has
other and heavier business on hand. Both
powers, it is true, acting in unison, could
divide Switzerland, and there are contin-
oencies under which danger might arse
| Int they are extremely improbable, and ex
| ist now in yet higher degree, partition be
| Ing comparatively easy. With two hundred
thousand good men Switzerland will always
| find allies.
The second and more immediate object, the
! one, in fact, on which all voting turned, is to
raise the republic once for all above all the
churches found within its borders, and this
has been accomplished in the most thorough
goin,g style. Many of the cantons are s'IonS DIE
! " Cal holic and one or two are stronSy 80
estant. but the entire republic may p1 o'aIo ~