The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-08-14
A Genuine Jeffersonian Re-
public.

The Swiss Confederation IL, next
to San Marino, which is a mere toy
Republic, the oldest representative
Government of the modern world.
1t is Il model of Jeffcrsonian sim
plicity. The Congress meets twice
IL year, and rarely extends its ses-
sions over three weeks. It's mem
bers receive - II day during its sit
tings. There Is Federal Council
of seven, one of whom Is chosen as
President for one year. This
Council is elected by the Congress-.
There is no cumbrous Electoral Col
lege, as with us, and no long or Sec
ond or third terms.
The popular elections are held in
the churches, and the corruption of
voters or the stuffiing of the ballot
box or rioting about the polls is UNI
known. A civil-service law, un-
written but real, prevails, and good
men grow old and die in the public
service. Nowhere, except in the
army, is age disqualitier. The
Swiss statesmen are all grayheaded,
and a cursory glance at sitting of
the Swiss Congress gives the inn
preston of Il small human snow
storm.
Ostentatious displays, either of
oratory or of living, are as unheard
of as official mannerism, inaccessi-
bility and bombast. The beggar on
horseback has never penetrated
these Businesses. The cornerstone
of the circumlocution Office has not
beel laid. There are no public
debt and no surplus. My dear old
friend, the Hon. A. Dudley Mann,
who negotiated the first treaty be-
tween the United States and
Switzerland, and who still lives in
Paris, intellectually as clear and
strong ut 81 as he was thirty-three
years ago, when l knew him asi I'm
der Sectary of State at Washington,
told me IL characteristic and anus
ing story of Il dinner given him by
the Federal Council just before his
departure from Berne, which near
ly bankrupted the National Treas
ury. think he said that out of Il
surplus on hand of 1925 this banquet
left less than 800, subject to the
Presidents draft. Mr.. Winchester,
to whom mentioned this, declared
that time has in no wise lessened
the frugality of the Swiss authori-
ties. They receive the most mea-
gre salaries, and make no pretense
at ceremony.
The local society of Berne is poor
and proud, and, having lost both
its titles and it's fortunes, it shuts
itself within stone walls and closed
blinds, hugs it's traditions and its
patricianism to its bosom, disdains
the world, ostraciZes the stranger,
and when put to it sells clandes-
timely and anonymously some heir
loom at Il sacrifice to obtain the
more pressing necessities of life
The official society emulates the
eXclusiveness of the local society.
Outside of the diplomatic corps
there are no dinners or gay equip
ages, and absolutely no routs ol
balls. The families of the Fedora
Councilmen neither receive nor re
turn visits with the families of th'
diplomatic corps, but live solel.
within themselves. Many year
ago member of the Cabinet, VIII
had married Il RICH wife, undertook
to disploit himself and make dis
play of his sudden wealth and ele
walton. The innovation not onl,
destroyed him politically but over
threw the Government, of which II
was an ornament. Since then n
one has dared to violate the un
written law of the land, which put
an eXtinguisher upon swell-head
and swell-headism.
In transact!ng business with tn
. Swiss Government, one does nc
have to cool his heels in an ante
room or pass the gauntlet of a line {
: insolent underlings to reach til
head of the department. Th
, Swiss Senator is not a mendicant ;
| home, bowling and cringing to til
: dear people, and pompous lordlt
: at Berne, too busy to do anything
l too great to be useful. He is til
4 same among his constituents an
r at the Federal capital. The coul
try is too small for little thunde
bolts to put on airs, and the peop
are too straightforward and INTEL
gent to tolerate the shams an
a frauds which pass current In large
and more complicated system
. Yet this simple, free and happy