St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-21

some popular scheme to meet the
subtreasury and other notions of the
Farmers Alliance. These gentlemen
are TO make a careful examination OF
the question of direct legislation by
the citizens through the initiative and
referendum" and 10 report plank TOT
the Republican state platform TINS year
on the subject.
The little republic of Switzerland,
which has stood for 600 years
the wonder ard admiration of the world.
is the only republic today which IN any
manner approaches pure democracy
in its form of government. In that
country today the people themselves
enact the laws and the
officers Are Merely Ste wards.
This result has been the result of cen
turies of progression, although the
greatest progress has been made during
the last few yearS-in fact, since the
adoption of the constitution of 1913.
The revolution of 1913 in Europe pro-
duced many original thinkers and
students of the science OF government
Like the few last years OF the elgnt-
eenth century, it was period OF polltl-
cal activity, unrest, and to great eX-
tent of theorizing. The hotbed OF the
reformers was located in Paris. Wnere
Martin Rittinghausen, Emile Girardin
and Louis Blanc. among others. dis
cussed in the Democratic Pacifque,
weekly paper, the subject of direct
legislation by the citizens. Their essays
created a sensation in the French cap
ital and large numbers of the citizens
at once adopted their ideas. The coup
d. etat of Louis Bonaparte in December.
1851. put an end to free speech IN
France, but these essays were after
wards reprinted in book form IN
Brussels and the work continued by
RittinghauSen and Victor COnSlderant.
Carl Burkli, of Zurich, took up the agi-
tation in Switzerland where the TACT
that the theory had in part been IN
practice for generations led to further
experiments, and these attaining success
to further, and so the work has gone on
There are in Switzerland twenty-five
eantons or states, and these are divided
into 2,T06 -communeS or townships. Inc
commune is the political as we'll as the
territorial unit. and as nearly as IS con-
sistent with cantonal and federal rights
governs itself. The
Commune Is Jealous
of interference by the greater state. the
citizens regarding it as their smaller
state. 1t has It's own property 10 look
after, and until the interests of the can
ton or confederation replace those of
the immediate locality, the COM
mune declines to part with the
administration of its lands, forests,
police, roads. schools, churches or
taxes. The adult male inhabitants of
the eommunes throughout Switzerland
meet at least once each year IN the
town market place and carry. out their
functions as citizens. In these meet
ings they debate, propose laws. name
officers and discuss affairs OF public
nature. Eyrry citizen is a legislator.
The right of initiating a measure be-
longs to every man. The vote is Or
dinarily taken by show of hands. In
most cantons youth becomes voter
at twenty, this being the legal age for
acquiring a vote in federal affairs.
Similar democratic legislative meet
ings govern Two cantons as cantons,
and two other cantons divided into
demi-cantons. In the demi-canton of
Outer Appenzell, 13, 500 voters are quail
fed thus to meet and legislate, and the
number actually assembled is some
times as great as 10000. This is the
highest extreme. The lowest for can
ton or demi-canton comprises about
5000 voters. The canton Of Schwyz,
with 5O.3O7 inhabitants has six cantonai
meetings, with an average of 1900 votes
to each. In the communal meetings
there are usually but few hundred
voters, however.
The yearly cantonal meeting usually
| takes place on a Sunday in April Or
May. and while the powers and duties
of the bodies vary somewhat in differ
ent cantons. they usually cover the fol-
lowing subjects;
First-Revision of the constitution.
| Second-Enactment of laws.
Third-Impostion of direct taxes.
Fourth - Incurrence of state debts and
alienation of the public domain.
Fifth-The granting of public privileges
Sixth-The assumption of foreigners into
state citizenship.
Seventh-The establishment of new Offices
and the regulation of salaries.
Eighth-The election of state executive ane
judicial officers.
The officials are required to prepare
and publish programme for these
meetings some time in advance, in orde
that opportunity may given individual
to make proposals and offer bills. Al
these must be written, the
object Plainly Stated