The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-09-01

with its wonderful woodcuts, to
the most learned dispositions Of
the iconoclastic historians. Be,
sides, have we not ourselves seen
the market-place at Altdorf and
Tell himself shoot the apple from
off his boys head, and heard the
loud chorus Of praise addressed to
the patriot bowman and defiance
to the tyrant Gessler, with oul
own eyes and ears-at the opera
no, we don't intend to give up
William Tell.
Independent of myths and rom
ances there is enough unquestion-
able fact IN the history of the con-
federated Cantons, in the noble
patriotism of the mountaineers, to
render the Swiss history interest
ing and instructive, 1t teaches
how q comparative handful of
determined men, united in one
good cause, stunning no self-sacri-
fee, can, aided by the natural
strength of their position, again
and again hurl backward the
forces Of invaders though many
times more numerous than their
own, and maintain their national
independence for centuries.
The first of the great battles for
Swiss liberty was fought at Nor
garten in 1915 when 1900 Swiss
defeated and drove back through
the defle of Zug 10000 Austrians
under their Duke Leopold.
In 1886 the Swiss Confederation,
now numbering seven cantons, four
others having joined the original
three, which were Uri, Schweitz
and Unterwalden, again met the
Austrains, under Leopold II, who
was completely defeated and him.
self slain.
1t was at this battle of Sempach
that Arnold Won Winckelreid
earned undying fame. For long
time the Swiss were unable to make
any impression on the serried
ranks of the Austrian pikemen,
when Arnold stepped forth from
the Swiss line, and throwing him
self open-armed on the Austrians,
grasped, it is said, seven pixies in
his arms and fell dead with their
points in his breast; but he had
broken their rank and won a vic
tory for his countrymen. This
event is still made the subject of
an annual commemoration.
The Austrians were again de-
feated in the following year and
peace was concluded.
At the battle of st. Jacob on the
Birs, in 1444, it is said that 1000
Swiss resisted 10000 French, and
were slain to a man, having cost
the enemy 10000 men.
At the time of the Reformation
there was split in religious mat
ters, but the political organization
survived. There are at present
twenty-five cantons, with popu-
lation of nearly three millions, of
whom about three-ffths are Pro-
testant, the rest Roman Catholic.
By a recent amendment IN the |
Constitution any group of fifty |
thousand citizens may refer any |
public question to referendum"
or general vote of the confederated |
cantons, and compel the federal
to act.
Though there is no standing
army allowed by law, all male citi-
zens are liable to serve and undergo |
annual military training.
The celebration at San Francisco
began on the eve of the anniversary
with a salute of twenty-five guns.
one for each canton, and a great bon
fire on the top of Russian hill. The
next day there were great meetings
1t Saratoga hall, with speeches
music and tableaux, finishing with
L grand ball.
The second day included parade
through the principal streets, and
IN excursion to Schuetzen Park.
Several divisions of the grand pro-
,ession were in consume, includ-
ng, of course, William Tell and his
DOW, and bis boy, and his apple,
Ind sundry groups of Swiss maid