The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-01

much better thing for Russia than a parlia-s
mentary monarchy. The Gear Nicholas II.
has shown symptoms OF qualified liberality,
but his reformatory acts have barely touched!
the surface of the evils to be removed. &t
Swiss Life In Town and Country. BY
Alfred Al 4 Story, author Of The Building Of
York! G. P. Putnam's Sons Minneapolis:
~ Mccarthy. Price, $1.20; by mail, $1.30.
Americans ought to be interested in
Switzerland and it's people, for they nave for
SIX centuries, beginning with the alliance of
few. cantons in 1891 for the maintenance OF
their liberties, held up tina torch of liberty
through manifold vieisstudes. In the; heart Of
Europe, buttressed by mighty mountains
whose foundations are deep and strong. The
development of the republic OF Switzerland
OF to-day has been through slow and patient
movements, as the war of liberation against
Austria; the war against the European Maxi
milan, which resulted in the confederation of
thirteen states in bund, all German speak
ing and within the basin Of the Rhine, and
the struggle against Napoleon, who defeated
them, but dealt considerably with them and
added six cantons to the bund. When Ma
poleon came to grief in 1916, the Swiss re-
asserted and re.establlshed their freedom and
added three more cantons to the federation,
which was by no means internally peaceful
until, in 1S4S, the confederation was changed
4
tanning a certain amount of independence,
but cannot withdraw when and as they like
This constitution is still in force with some
notifications and additions. The central gov
eminent is supreme in all matters relating
to peace, war and treaties, army, postal and
other means of communication: coming OF
money and note issues, and weights and
measures; general revenue, copyright, bank
ruptcy, patents and sanitation and public
works. The central government has exclusive
control over the manufacture and sale of
liquor, given it by popular vote of the
entire country, taken in 1885, to abate the vice
| of drunkenness. The production of spirits is
now limited to $4,000 hectolitres Ga hectolitre
| is 26417 gallons) annually and the net profits
| Isl, 250, 0O0) go to the cantons to be used for
! the purposes Of the state and each canton Is
! required to use one-tenth of the amount re-
! ceived in combating alcoholism as to Its
causes and effects. Some cantons expend the
| tenth in support of asylums for inebriates.
The author says there is a great difference
| OF opinion among the Swiss as to the value
of the referendum, for which provision was
made in the revised constitution of 1874 He
| found many enemies of the law, but gen
orally it is approved and has worked well
| and there has been less iI-cons!dered action
| than was expected. The people are very con-
| servative The initiative, corollary or the
referendum, is also conservatively applied 1t
recognizes the right Of the people to mrs,
voice in proposing legislation and any one
| can start a measure for the reform OF the con-
! stituton who can secure the signatures OF
! So GOO persons in its favor. A popularity OF
the Swiss federal council is that 1t Is non
partizan and it's activities are directed tt
carrying out the will Of the people and not
! forcing partizan measures upon them. In the
! chapter on public education the readerwill find
| much Interesting matter. No people are more
! saturated with the conviction OF the import
! ance Of public education, thoroughly dis
| tributed among the people They have the
! pedagogic instinct and some of the creates
OF educators were born in that country. Edu
cation is compulsory and is under the civil
authority. 1t is required by the constitution
to be sufficient obligatory, gratutous and un
sectarian, and each canton is left to carr!
out its own methods of education under tn
law and the subjects taught vary greatly
Religious instruction is given in Romal
Catholic and Protestant cantons. Manua
work and gymnastics generally added t.
the course and girls are on an absolute equal
ty with boys in the matter Of education. Il
some cantons over 80 per cent Of the children
of all classes attend the public elementar
, schools Girls and boys under 10 cannot b
put to work in factories. There are inter
mediary schools between the universities an
the primary schools The author thinks tn
Swiss secondary education is defective. Scnot
hygiene is closely attended to- An inter
esting account is given Of Swiss industries
life and work in the Alps; the daily life {
the people; child life and the military sys
tenn. Notably interesting chapters are thos
on Swiss women and their homes; working
mems societies; religious life and influences
popular fetes and festivals and literature an
= the press A good sketch Of striking type
of Swiss character is embodied in the closin
chapter.