Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-01-05
INTOLERANCE IN GENEVA


I'M OIitHHNtE nv dE4NE "A.
IRON tho New York world.l
Geneva IL not Switzerland, for Switz-
crland is the snug harb6r Of safety for
political refugees from all parties of
Europe, and here opinions may be
freely promulgated which in Italy,
France, Russia, Germany and Austria
are denounced as revolutionary and
subvcrsivo of order. In 1886 Switzer-
land opposed the demands Of Count
Mole almost TO the point Of war sooner
than expel the refugees who had taken
shelter within her borders. But Ge-
neva Is not Switzerland. In 1875 Ge-
nova has expelled the Catholic Sisters
Of Charity in spite against the Catholic
bishop, with whom the authorities of
the town happened 10 have n quarrel.
This totally inexcusable act is all OF a
piece with the Geneva Tor some centu-
rics---a career of distinguished intoler-
ance and fanaticism. Coppet is near
Geneva but the genius OF liberalism
which Madame De Stacl personified
has refused TO penetrate within the
city. Pestalozzi did not successfully
combine the lesson of charity with his
excellent educational scheme. Ferney
is,right under the walls of Geneva, but
the spirit of Voltaire, who fought so
nobly for the Calas family, has never
entered within those walls.
Yet it would seem as IL toleration
should be the natural growth Of a place
so sit..ated and with such history
the blue Lake Loman, with its arrowy
Rhone the sublime landscape, an ever
changing, ever enchanting programme
of vivid life clinging to the knees Of
barren, desolate mountains the eternal
vista Of peaks, cliffs, glaccrs-such a
land, such a scene freedom loves newt |
ably. And freedom and men have
always clung hore to this, the ancient
est city probably in Europe, that was
peopled while yet the lake had no OK
istence save as an extension of the
Rhonc glacier beyond there a city be-
fore it wore Casars 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 Sa-
voy, and then, in 1885, the republic,
free and autonomous, until in ISIS it
Joined tho Swiss Confederation. A
free State. free city. schooled in mis-
fortune. with education universal. pub
lie spirit strong and sustained excellent
municipal policy. admirable municipal
prrctice. this Geneva should be the
most tolerant of Protestant citics--it is
md has been the most intolerant.
Uri. Unterwald. Schwitz. Catholic
cantons of Switzerland. fought for and
secured the freedom of all that country.
made Helvetia, and naturalized liberty
and liberation there. They. who had
defeated Charles the Bold, also expelled
the Austrians, but left the altars un-
touched. Geneva profited by these
exploits of Tell, Furst and Melchtal.
The book Of the laws and privileges
Of Geneva, drawn up by the Catholic
Bishop Adhemar Fabri, is sort of
Genevese Magma Charta. Under this
code Geneva became great CONNER
cial centre, mart and free city. En-
terprise focked to it; refugees congre-
gated there. Among them was John
Calvin. Calvin instituted Puritanism,
the natural congener OF which was in
tolerance and domestic espionage. The
spirit Of this sour and morose law-giver
has brooded over the city ever since.
1t was Calvin who burnt Servetus at
the stake, refused bread to the starv-
ing Castalis, and substituted for the
laws OF Adhemar his own code, for
bidding to wear slashed hose and
doublets, and making hair ornaments,
card playing and fashionable shoes
felonious offenses.
We have no wish TO DENY that Cal
vim purified Geneva consolidated and
strengthened her institution. that he