The National tribune., 1899-05-25
A SWISS ELECTION.
Primitive Forms Still In Use Ia the Alpine Valleys

/ assisted last Sunday at popular
election meeting in the Canton of Appen-
zell, and known in German Switzerland
as the mandsgemeinde." In Switzerland,
each Canton has its own local G Government,
or State Council the members of which
are elected by the people, generally in the
the Canton of Appenzell the ancient
method, the mandsgemeinde" in all it's
primitive simplicity, is still in vogue.
This system of voting is unique, and
although it works wonderfully we'll with
the peaceful. law-abiding inhabitants of
the fertile Canton of Appenzell it would
doubtless prove unsuitable in countries
like Italy or France, where election crowds
are more eXcitablc.
In Appenzell, week or two before the
last Sunday in April, the day on which
the landsgemcinde takes place, each wear
the authorities send out 20 every inhabit-
ant entitled TO vote a printed pamphlet
explaining clearly the program, the candi-
dates for election to the Council, the new
laws and regulations proposed etc. The
voter studies this pamphlet carefully and
makes up his mind whether to vote in
favor or against each of the questions.
Early on Sunday morning the peasants
and farmers began to arrive by all the
roads and paths leading to the Hundwyl,
the village where the meeting was 10 take
place, most OF IiltIl Oh 1901 itllDSh from
the more distant villages having four or
five hours walk in order to reach Humid
wyl) and some in carts and carriages, but
all attircd in their Sunday best and every
voter armed with a. sword, an ancient
custom probably meant to imply that
every man is free and independent and
capable of upholdng his rights. An in
finite variety Of swords are 10 be seen,
some dating from the days Of Napoleon,
others evidently Old cavalry sabers, others
again elegant rapiers like those worn
by gentlemen in the days Of Louis XIV;
many of these swords have been handed
down from father 10 son for generations.
BY II O'Clock, the hour fixed for the open
ing Of the meeting, about II, 900 men were
massed in Il compact crowd in the large
space rising gradually from the green in
front of the church, where the platform
for the authorities Was erected. BiN what
surprised me most was the calmnesS and
quietneSS of the cTowd7-no heated dis
cussions, no noisy voices, no pushing or
hIistling-those who spoke among them
selves did so in ordinary tones. AS far as
could observe, there was not a single
policeman present, nor were any needed. |
As the clock ceased striking a small
procession, headed by eight drUmmers in
old Swiss costumes, and composed Of the
State Council and the ushers, wound its
way slowly to the platform. The pro
cecdingS commenced by the singing of a |
favorite hymn by several hundreds of
male voices accompanied by the band. |
Then followed u short prayer, during which
every head was uncovered. This finished,
the business of the day commenced; the
us!iers, men chosen for their stentorian
voices, put the various questions, and,
after each question, called out that those
in favor Of the motion were to raise their
hands. 1t is an imposing sight TO see this
multitude listening so intentiy to all that
is said and to see 10, 900 hands uplifted in
favor OF popular candidate: but they
also know how to keep their hands down