New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-15

actually an American citizen, a gallant volunteer
soldier in the Union Army. and a sufferer for the
Nations sake in the rebel prison-pcn
Emil Fret comes Of ancient and honored Basic
family and was bern at Arlcsheim. Basic on Octo-
Der q. 1888 His ancestors statesmen and
warriors OF erlinerce. and his father was for many
years Chief Justice OF the Supreme Court OF Basic
After acquiring a fine education AZ Basic. Tim and
jena nc came. In December. 1860 To this country
for the purpose OF studying American institutions
The stirring issues OF those times moved him
TO so great enthusiasm. that he decided to become
American citizen and as soon as the war broke
out. the year. he enlisted in the National
Army a private soldier. In the 9th Illinois
Infantry he served in Missouri. Kentucky and North
Alabama In August. 1862, he raised company
for the SD Illinois Infantry. which he commanded
at Fredericksburg. Charlottesville and Gettysburg
by his valor having fairly won his spurs. he was
commissioned major. Captured at Gettysburg, ne
bbv Prs as benr held in the latter Tnii Janu
airy A. 1866. hostage for the rebel Captain Cor
don. who was held under sentence OF death AZ ,he
North. At the close Of the he was honorably
mustered out OF service with the rank OF Colonel
Returning to switzerland In the summer OF Iso';
he quickly became leader In social science ana
general political affairs. In November OF That year
he was made Secretary Of state OF the canton OF
Basic He afterward n member ana then
presiding. officer OF that local goyernment' where
head OF the Department OF Public Instruction and
mulated and presented a law regulating labor in
manufactures. prohibiting the employment OF chlI-
and which did away which the night labor or
artisans in factories or course, he aroused the
OF employees who claimed the right OF their own
time and that Of their wives and children. He
the satisfaction Of seeing his bill approved by the
Federal Assembly ana adopted by the swiss people.
In 1872 Colonel Fret RESIGNED his offices under me
cantonal Government, ana became chiet owner ana
editor OF the Rasle "Nachrchten." one ~ the lead.
10 b. member OF the cantonal legislature ana
OF the Federal Congress- being President OF the Tor
m IN
three years he was the presiding officer among the
members Of the progressive party Of the Federal t
eli c6mmlttecmen he helped frame the Federal con-
stltutiOn OF 1871 and one OF the advocates or
his opening speech az President Of the National
Council in 1876 he expressed the conviction that
fare Of the Republic. and suggested negotiations
with the European States for legislative actcA IN
common Sn 1ns FarRgesez Few Years after
ward I'm the Federal Assembly. he presented the
motion anew. which was adopted and ms proIpse.n
negotiations were opened ~ was thiough ms etorts
that the public schools Of Switzerland were freed
from Church control ana II was ne VINO s ssve ss f
Sagaciously seeing the immensely OF its importance
| promise" which IN the Federal Assembly led To the
governmental subventlon for that great railway -.
| Minister OF Switzerland to the United States He
thereupon returned to the country he had served IN
| the diplomatic world at Washington He returned
Switzerland In 1873 and since then has been fore
opS among , pas b has been vce President Of the
Confederation. He is the representative Of the ma
time to unite the various cantons into HARMONIOUS
whole. The mission Of Switzerland among the
| first to demonstrate to the ola World that true
| democracy IL not In contradiction with order and
| Switzerland the French Italian and GERMANY can
| live peacefully and happily together: under com
mon government, a,n9ngh sIaratea by mountains
| terests and distinct nationalities'