The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-11-26
Intolerance in Genera.

Geneva is not Switzerland, for Swi;zer-
land is the snug harbor of safety for poiit-
ical refugees from all parts of Europe, and
here opinions may be freely promui gated
which in Italy, France, Russia, Germany
and Austria are edenounced,as revolutionary
and subversive of order. In 1886 SwitZer-
land opposed the demands of Count Mole
almost to the point of war sooner than ex-
pei the refugees who had taken shelter
within her borders. But Geneva is not
Switzerland. In 1875 Geneva has expelled
the Catholic Sisters of Charity in spite
against the Catholic bishop, with whom
the authorities of the town happened to
have quarrel. This totally inexcusable
act is all CT piece with the Geneva for
some centuries-a career of distinguished
intolerance and fanaticism. Coppet is
near Geneva, but the genius of liberalism
which Madame De Stael personified has re-
fused to penetrate within :he city. Pes
talozzi did not successfully combine the
lesson of charity with his excellent educa-
tiOnal scheme. Ferney is right under the
walls Of Geneva, but the spirit of Vol,aire,
who fought so nobly for the Calas family,
has never entered within those walls.
Yet it would seem as if liberation should
be the natural growth Of a place so situated
and with such a history ; the blue Lake Lo-
man, with its arrowy Rhone the sublime
landscape an ever changing. ever -enchant-
ing programme of vivid life clnging to the
knees of barren, desolate mountains the
eternal vista of peaks, cliffs. glacieIs--such
a land, such scene freedom loves inevta-
bly,. And freedom and men have always
clung here to this, the ancientest city prob
ably in Europe. that was peopled while yet
the lake had no existence save as an ex-
tension of the Rhone glacier beyond there;
a city before it wore CGsar's yoke a city
when the rude Burgundians made it their
capital when the Ostrogoths ruled there.
and the Franks succeeded. and the second
Burgundian state; and the barons and
bishops the Counts Of Savoy. and then,
i'll 1885, the republic, free and autonomous
until in 1916 it joined the Swiss Confedera-
ton. A free state, free city, schooled in
misfortune, with education universal pub
lie spirit strong and sustained, excellent
municipal policy, admirable municipal prac-
tice, this Geneva should be the most toler-
an. of Protestant cties--it is and has been
the most intoerant.
Uri, Unterwald, Schwitz, Catholic cantons
of Switzerland, fought for and secured the
freedom OF all that country, made TIelve-
tia, and naturalized liberty and federation
there. They, who had defeated Charles
the Bold, also expelled the Austrians. but
left the affairs untouched. Geneva profitea
by these exploits Of Tell, Furst and Melch-
tai n0 OoOk Oh tne laws ana privileges
OfGeneva, drawn up by the Catholic Bishop
Adhemar Fabri, is sort Of Genetese Mag
ma Charta. Under this code Geneva be-
came great commercial centre. mart and
free city. Enterprise fiocked to it; refu-
gees coDgregated there. Among them was
John Calvin. Calvin instituted Purtanism,
the natural congensr of which was intoIer-
ance and domestic espionage. The spirit
ofthis sour and morose law e liver has brood
ed over the city ever since. 1t was Calvin
who burnt Servetus AT the stake refused
bread to the starving Castalis, and substi-
tuted for the laws of Adhemar his own
code. forbidding to wear slashed hose and
doubletS, and making hair ornaments card
playing and fashionable shoes felonious Of
fenses.
We have no wish to deny that Calvin
purified Geneva, consolidated and strength
ened her institution, that he was great
rcformer and the founder of a tremendous
system to which the world owes much. 1t
cannot be doubted that Geneva was place
of safety for the harassed of Protestant Eu-
rorc for many generations, and that she
defended nobly refugees from France.
England, Holland, Germany, Italy. We
rejoice in the great men who have cluster
ed abouy the memory of Protestant Geneva
Calvin. Farel, Beza, Tronchin. Chandieu,
Pictel. De"dati. Turretin, Maurice. Chen
iviere, Malan, D'Aubigny. We take pride
in city that was defended by Sidney,
Sully, Du Plessis. Mornay, Henri Qnatre
but the ashes of Michael Servetus have
not been atoned for, and they strangle
those who would willingly believe in the
true liberalism of Geneva What was done
to Servetus in 1858 was repeated in a mod
fled form, to Malan and Gaussen in 1916.
Again it breaks ont in this year of grace
1875 against the helpless Sisters of Charity.
N. Y. World.