National Republican., 1886-08-09
The Swiss Republic.


Martin Luther said that rich country is |
corroboratod indirectly by Mr., Henry Wat.
tcrson. The latter gentleman, in his Swiss
letter to the Kentucky paper, finds in Swift
zcrland the perfect model Of republican
government, and finishes his letter by stat
ing that "this simple, free, and happy, this
upright and economic system has ilourished
for SEQ years, aud is at this moment as
stable and mistaken as II ever was, pure
democracy and perfect republlcanism.
Americans, take Off your hats and salute it!"
When Luther and Watterson agree upon
any subject the subject deserves our most
serious consideration. Switzerland, as is
well known, is not a rich country flnan-
cially. The total estimated revenue OF the
confederation for 1886 is Sl1, ,527,S0O aud
the total estimated expenditure, 81 ,537, ZOO,
leaving deficit Of $1,000, which amount
"will easily be covered, as the budget esti-
mates are always drawn up IN rather a
pessimist fashion, The public debt Of the
republic at the end Of 1884 amounted to
50, SOC, 400 at per cent. To meet such
debt, however, there exists what is called
"fedoral fortune," or property belonging
to the state, valued at Sl00,000,000. just
about the estimated amount OF Mr.. Gould's
fortune, and half that Of the late W. X.
Vanderbilt. Mr.. Watterson, therefore, who
is an optimist with regard to Switzerland,
is right when he says "there is no public
debt and no surplus,n
In 1884 the population Of the twenty two
cantons OF Switzerland was estimated at
| 2,9O6,T T52, The population is formed Of
four race elements, distinct by their Ian
guage, as German, French, Italian, aud
Roumansch, but the first constituting the
| great majority The soil Of the country is
equally divided among the population, as
there are nearly 100000 peasant proprietors,
representing population OF about 2,00O,-
0O0.
That we may understand this last item
more clearly let us compare this land owner
ship with that Of Great Britain, In which
country far the greater part of the entire land
is owned by less than 6,000 persons. Bear
ing in mind the fact that all the good things
on earth come directly or indirectly from
the land 1t is easy to see that their distrlbu-
tion is much more equitable in Switzerland
| tlluh uPOh NhiSu Nib buh
never sets; In other words that the oppor-
tunities and facilities for happiness are more
widely difTused among the Swiss than
among the great nations whose armies,
navles, national debts, and general drum and
trumpet business make so great a noise in
the world
But, leaving the filthy lucre, we will
view this impressive republic on another
side. The higher education Of any country
Is fair test of the intelligence and pros
perity of its people. There are, according
to the "Statesman's Year Book" for 1886,
four universities In Switzerland, which, we
may add, in teaching power-apart from
the mere accessories OF wealthy endow-
ments and splendid buildlngs-are equal
Indeed, in profound and genuine scholar
ship, they are superior to the four unlversl-
ties of Great BRITAIN to Oxford, Cambridge,
Edinburgh, and Trinity College, Dublin.
In 1856 Basel had so professors aud teach
ers and 1926 students; Berne, So professors
and 430 students; Zurich, 90 professors and
437 students, and Geneva, 74professors and
about 32l students, inclusive Of non.matrlc-
ulated students. In every district there
are primary schools, In which the elements
Of education, with geography and history
are taught; and secondary schools fol
youths Of from 10 to 10, in which instruc
tion is givenin modern languages, geometry
natural science, tie fine arts, and music. Il
both these schools the rich and the poo
are educated together, the latter being ad
mitted gratuitously.
True liberty stalks like majestic spiri
amid the hills and wales of this isolated re-
public, and any one who has read the ex
cellent account Of the great celebration
Of the battle of Sempach, published
c In the columns of our esteeme
a contemporary, the Star, of last Saturday
i will understand the enthusiasm Of the au
n dience when the president of the republl
e concluded his speech with the quotatio
J. from PestGlozzi' "Guardian spirit OF th
!. land, proclaim aloud through mountain an
c vale that freedom is OF the people; proclair
5 aloud the eternal truth that In protecting
: the liberties Of all lies the safeguard OF II
7 diyidual freedom We agree with M
s Watterson's estimate of the Swiss repuhli,
and willingly salute its greatness, its st
Lility, it's financial poverty, and its intellec
@ ual wealth.