Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-07
AJEFFERsONIAN REPUBLIC.
Rugged Simplicity in Central Eu
rope.
Prom IVdtterson's Last Lctter.


From Wdttsrson's Last Letter.
The Swiss Confederation is, next to san
Marine, which is a mere toy republic. the
oldest representative government OF the
modern world. 1t is model of Jeffer-
sOnian simplicity. The Congress meets
twice a year and rarely extends its SEES
sions over three weeks. Its members re-
,ceive 81 day during it's sittings. There
is "a Fedora. Council of seven, one OF
whom is chosen as president for one year.
'Tnis council is elected by the congress.
There is no cumbrous electoral college,
as with lis, and no long, or second, or
'third terms.
The popular elections are held in the
churches, and the corruption of voters, or
the stuting Of the ballot box or Tioting
about tue polls is unknown. A civil SER
vice law unwrltten, but real, prevails and
good men grow old and die la the public
service. Nowhere, except in the army, is
age disqualitier. The Swiss statesmen
are all gray haired, and cursory glance
eat stting of the Swiss Congress gives
the impression OF small human snow
storm.
Ostentatious displays, either OF orRtory
or Of living, are as unheard Of as official
mannerism, iuaccessiDility and BON bast.
The beggar on horseback has never peue-
Hrated these Businesses. Tue corner stone
of the circumlocuuon office has not been
1ald. There are no public deOt and no
surplus. My dear old friend, the Hon. A
Dudley Mann, who negotiated the first
1reaty between the United States and
Switzerland, and who still lives in PARIS
intellectually as clear aud strong at
Eighty-seyen as he was thirtv-three wears
ago, when knew him as Under Secretary
pf State at Washington, tOiu me IA charac-
st...s
given him by the Federal Council inst Oe-
lore his departure from Bernie, wnich
nearly Dankruptcd tue national treasury,
. think ne SAID that, out Vi a surplus on
hand OF two hundred aud seventy-hve dot
Oars, this banquet lett less than one nun.
dred dollars subject To the Presidents
draft. Mr.. Winchester, TO wnOm | men
stoned tuis, declared that time has in no
wise lessened the trugaliuy Of the Swiss
authorities. T4ey receive the most mea-
ger salaries and make 40 pretense at cere-
mouy.
The local society OF Berne is poor and
proud, aud having lost both its titles and
bts fortunes, IL shuts Itself within stone
walls aud closed blinds, hugs it'd tradi-
4ions and its pgtricianism 10 its bosom
disdains the world, ostracises the stran-
ser, and, when put to II, sells. clandes-
ainely aud anonymously, some HEIRLOOM
at "A 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 equipages,
and absolutely no rOuts or balls. The
families OF the Federal Councilman neither
receive nor return visits with the families
oil the diplomatic corps, but live solely
within themselves. many years ago "A
member Of the Cabinet, who had married
a rich wife, undertook to disploit himself,
and to make a display OF his sudden
wealth and elevation. The innovation
not only destroyed him politically, but
oyerthrew the government Of which be
was an ornament. Since then no one has
dared 20 violate the unwritten law Of the
1and, which puts an extinguisher upon
swell.heads and swell-headism.
In transaeuBg business with the Swiss
government one does not have to cool his
peeis In an ante-reom or pass the gantIet
line OF insolent uRderllngs TO reach
\ lne head Of a department. The Swiss
benator u not mendicant at home, bow
tRs ana yHkaging to the dear people. and a