The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-23
SWISS REFERENDUM
How the People Of the Little
Republic Legislate.
The Rights CT Citizenship jealousy Guarded.
Little Comfort for Boodlsrs and Pro-
fessional Politicians.

The recent developments in CaliforD ia S
Legislature, combined with similar occur-
rences in the past in this State as well as
in other parts of the Union, will make sew
eral extra cts from an article in the Chau-
tauquau for April specially interesting at this
time The Swiss people have long been
noted for their spirit OF freedom and indie
pendence. 1t might not be bad thing for
American interests if the people took hand
II the affairs of the country, and in dealing
justice to its servants in legislative halls
who fail to subserve the best interests of
the State and instead pass laws which are
for the benefit of favored classes only.
The sentiment is strong in Switzerland
that there is but one way TO reform the
Government and keep it reformed. It is
for the people themselves to take the direc-
ton of their public affairs at every step.
The exercise OF pc pular rights extended and
simpl fed-Ihis the remedy. With the Gov
eminent mechanism void unless approved
by the citizenship rogueS might get into Of
fee, but IN vain; al their direction nothing
would be done. Deprived of the law-mak
ing power Representatives are no longer rul-
ers, and it is then they may expect to seek
the common benefit
ADV anced Swiss opinion declares, "Let us
trust-oursrlves." To be explicit, the
friends of the perfected Referendun-the
obligatory Concentrating large body OF
the Swiss people, are demanding that its
sphere shall be enlarged. They hope to see
the referendary right exercised completely
in all public matters-in commune, city,
canton and nation. There is an element
with even greater hopes. 1t sees in the
pathway of tina Referendum the road lead
ing to the regeneration of society. 1t be-
lieyes the unobstructed will of the people
will push on to the settlement OF every radi-
cal question. Already this will is engaging
itself with the problem Of monopoly-in
banking, in trade, in land. These
issues settled. and the law of Justice becom-
ing the law of custom, the time will comr,
these reformerS hold, when repreSsive
statutes shall no longer be necessary. The
concepts of perfect and symmetrical justice
imbibed by the young, as our own rising
generation is now imbiDing the sentiment
that our chatte slavery was horrible, gov
eminent by force will no longer be known
and men will dwell in concord. This the
dream of dreamers who believe the uniyer-
sal reign of peace is the destiny of -IlaD, to
be achieved by man. Theirs is the faith
that ciings to millennium.
The referendum is the reference of pro-
posed laws TO the people for their veto or
approval.
The Referendum as now practiced in
Switzerland had its origin in two sources:
a. In few of the communes the system
mas pTtVdIl6u IN one I0Tln OF UOlutT from
time imnem0ral. LII the German forest
cantons-Glarus, Uri, Schwyz, Appenzell
and Unterwald-the adult male inhabitants
of nearly every commune yet meet on
stated occasions in the town market-place,
or in the open air on a mountain plain, and
carry out their functions as citizens. AS
did their ancestors, they there debate pro-
posed laws, name officers and discuss az
fairs of general nature. Every ciiZau is
legislator, his voice and vote influencing
every question discussed. The right of
initiative belongs to each he WHO cDneeiyes
a measure having the opportunity OF pre-
senting it and explaining it. Decision IS
made by show of hands. A purely demo-
cratic assemblage Of this kiad is called a
Landsgemeinde.
~ The ancient Swiss cantons conferred
by sending delegates TO a diet But the
deputies could undertake no affair except
Oh condition of referring tad referendum
to the cantonal councils. To this liberal
tradition Switzerland is still true. So late
us 1884. when st. Gall proposed revision ef
the Federal pact, Geneva demanded a con-
ference in which each canton should have
the same number of delegates. not tied down
by Instructions, but voting with the reserve
of cantonal ratification. Likewise, to-day,
restriction is exercised by the people upon
the cantonal councils and Federal Assembly
Congress-
If 20 are dull and stupid you are bilious and
aLo I ivar uIato