Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-09-13
LITTLE SWITZERLAND.
A Harbor of Refuge for the Politically
Prosecuted of All European
Nations.
How the People Vote Finally on All
Laws and Resolutions Passed by
Their Representatives.

rugged mountain passes. but because
through her unStinted hospitality she has
brought upon her devoted head the united
wrath of the great powers. Russia, Austria
and Prussia, who threaten her long-pre-
served and highly cherished neutrality. not
without cause.
For many wears. as is well known,
Switzerland has been harbor of refuge
for all exileS whom political enmity. change
of fortune, nihiGSm, and anarchy have
driven from their respective homes. So
long rs they were satisfied to live quietly
in the sheltered valleys of the country of
their adoption they were considered harm
less and were not moleSted But these
restless fighters against fate are never will
ing TO remain passive. and have repeatedly
Sinned anew. not only against their own
lands. by breeding fresh plots. Illuminating
fresh diSSenSionS, publishing anarchist
pamphlets. and manufacturing bombs. but
against the nation which so kindly pro-
tectS them. by kindling against her the
animositieS of the countries who consider
themselves aggrieved by her forbearance.
Therefore the great powers have decided
that Switzerland shall drive these rebels
from her midst and open up her country.
so that no barrier can prevent them from
marching Il body of troops up the Rhone
valley to Basel. and thence into French
territory if they like.
But the German Swiss are not Germans,
neither are the French Swiss Frenchmen-
Each man of them. whether he speaks
French. German. or Italian. is a Switzer.
pledged to fight. and die if need be. for his
canton and commune and the liberty he so
dearly loves.
1t appears strange that this people. so
patriotic. so devoted and so brave. have
occupied the attention of our writers and
historians III such slight degree. as their
country teens with romance and deeds of
daring that are rot to be surpassed else
where; and not mountain or defile in the
picturesque border-land fails of some story
of ndomitable courage and perseverance
when an invading army threatened their
homes
This historical need has been happily
filled of late by the publication of volume
bound IN the same manner and worthy to
be casSed as a companion to Bryce 5 valua-
BILE work. The American Commonwealth. -"
1t is called the The Swiss Confederation. ="
and is written by c. d. Cunningham in
conjunction with Sir Francis Otterville
Adams. late her majesty'S envoy extraordi-
nary and minister plenipotentiary to Bernie.
The original idea of these gentlemen was
to write Il little sketch of Swiss laws and
customs, which could be carried in the
pocket and used for reference: but finding
themselves so situated that they could COM
mand the fullest and most important infor-
nation of all subjects of law, religion.
agriculture, commerce, education politics.
and history. the work was swnilad 70 its
present size and is most satisfactory to ono
seeking information abont fine Internal
WORKING of a republic in +bis old world "a
rambIic CONSISTING Of onl, tvent,..+,,, ,.,,.
tons in a comnact LITTLE country with =
nonuIation of less Than 3 600 600 SurronndN
ed Inv vast emn;r;ns alton ne now tbrnat-
eninr and hostile, but hoIdino its own
brayely and always exbibitino = snirit as
invincihle and steadfast rs its Anime
mountains
The chapters ON Referendum" and
.sComparison of Political Institutions ARE
especially interesting to Americans the
former pointing ont a means Inv which
some of The veXpd ouestions a+ homo mi,rht
he settled. ..referendu,n'' pnapino :. fbo
reference 10 ali vote-nossassing citizons
either of +ba confederation ~. oF q oa,+o,,
for acceptance or rejection of laws and
resolutions nassed nv their renrnsonta-
tives."
THE conservatives. " saws the author
violently opposed this law of referendum at
its introduction. but they became IFS earnest
supporters when they fOund that II acted
as drug upon hastv and radical law-mak
ing. although there is no doubt that if has
diminished the importance of the discus
sions upon laws and general resolutions in
the chambers of those bodies in the eyes of
the people. 1t would not be surprisino if
the deputies were to feel at times less
earnestness in their work. since they know
that after all the measures adopted by them.
however necessary. are at the mercy of a
popular vote. so that their decision need
not be final, and all their time and trOuhle
may he thrown away -
In the chapter ON - Comnarisons - mucb
valuable information was oivou 70 tho
writer's nv tbe Hon Rovd Wincboe+ar onr
late minister To Rerno who cIoTo,. Ia,,.,.o,.
a,,d na- onoof,i - H.
to,, &c IL Tr,o;tod g.. III 10
and = fIII, no,,,,,oto,,t 20 i,,, az,
harrison hat,vean pI,. roe+bods of a,o,o,.,1-
mo the GREAT country which s+rotcbes fron,
the Atlantic 70 the Pacific and con;nr; oe.l
thirfy-eioht states with 60 00O 0O0 IF in
habitants. where the very immensitv do
mands that the constitution r,rs+ ,,alyo
nroyisions for its own, ar,o,,d,n,,4 ;,ntood
Of its revision haing danemJnn+ ,,r ll,9 +bo
demand of 30 600 If The votn-ro opoa Ing
citizens, as is the case in Switzerland
Equally interesting are the cbantprs ON
'"Tba Commnnes " which +bo Sur;ss ,,oI,,o
nc fornino, Tho S,,bOtrat,,ro &c 49,
IibartT and rnI;o;on Tb;nb = nh ILL totod
from Tho JaIs of TT,c Z,-n i,o ,h ,,'4 49,
raI oio,,s roforr,,or =, I51o ~ ,ilo ,rs'
o fbo oo,,Io Of Zro bo,,o - mlose NH, t
nohfa ,,,on,iroo,,+ h;cb IL ~; ;te
IL a. "iilCn "''I f ilI 1e PcC
ond H. g. =" $3.50 en- Ii " I'm ''IN -
oh LII @ anLI oI i' III 4I MIo
IF D|,d7d ~ ,io 800
~, inarorahIo s;rt of r,r anu
,,,as r;doood h,- d. I,,,,f; of
~ +bo stoio 50, y tbonco 20 H. oto '1on4
81 tbo s;1too,,+b na,,tI,,e ,,,ho $50 p''o'
tban orcbh;sbon of N;iar 80; ~, II. H.
Clio, Iaal,o ,,-Lnrai'l ~ Eatl1 IL
cantons enteroj mo dcfo mGrei lo nd'i"ri J
=, O.. -, t,z,.-lIo, IL e. -- 80
power OF the Jesu1ts led to the SOnderbund