Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-16

breathing the air of anarchy and assassina-
ton in Russia for several weeks is entitled
TO indulge In a certain amount of moralz-
ing on the blessings of liberty. The love of
freedom, however is not the exclusive pos
session of the Swiss 1t Is found in a great
or or less degree everywhere that the chill
dren OF men abide. but In Switzerland 1t has
been gratified more fully perhaps than any
where else, even more than in our own land
of liberty. The distinction is due to our
own fault-to the habitual indifference to
the precious rights and privileges that hea-
ven and the revolutionary fathers have be-
slowed upon us. The Swiss have no such
fault. They extremely sensitive con-
corning everything that affects their politi-
cal and civil prerogatives and observe that
eternal vigilance which are told is the
price of liberty.
The sturdy serious character of the Swiss
is illustrated at Zurich more accurately than
at the summer resorts in the Alps. where
hundreds of thousands of tourists pre-
sumo million more-come every season
and drop golden sovereigns and silver dol
lars into the laps of the worthy burghers,
not of whom, be he rich or great or
learned, is too proud to accept a franc or
even centime from the naughty and trou-
blesome travellers. 1t is worth while for
every American to come here and study the
habits and methods of these people; to ana
1--WE this combination of thrift and pride
perhaps the best governed community In
human history.
Ideals of Democracy.
The science of self government and the
ideals of democracy have been carried near
er to perfection here than in any other ma
ton At the same time it Is surprising to
see the pride of ancestry and jealousy of
social position that continually infringes
upon the doctrine of equality and fraternity
No people in the world take more stock In
social precedence or in family relation
ships and occasionally you will be shocked
at the social tyranny and exclusiveness OF
the aristocracy and the autocrauc dlSposl-
ton of the lords who bear no titles, out
hold their own heads much higher than
they allow the peasants to do. Their chill
dren; are educated in foreign countries;
their daughters get their garments from
Paris and they scrupulous concern
ing the matrimonial connections of their
children as the ancient French nobility
They wear coats-of-arms upon their car
riages place them on their pews in church
and over the entrances to their houses and
on their note paper and book plates You
often hear of acts of tyranny and 1ntoler-
auce also but they have nothing to do with
politics. They invariably involve ,he do
mestic relations religion of the people, or
are inspired by the ecclesiastics.
! For example. the other day read about
the refusal of the authorities of certain
canton to lease the water power of one or It's
rivers to a manufacturing concern because
of the opposition of the clergy. When the
st. Gothard railroad desired to make the
little town of Altdorf. the home of William
TELL, its division headquarters and establish
repair shops there. the authorities refused
to grant permission, for fear of Protestant
workmen might be brought into the Cath
Ollie community. And yet there is no land
in which nowadays the representatives of
the different religious faiths abide in great
er peace or Christian fellowship. The
Protestant majority, representing two
thirds of the population. and the Catholic
minority embracing the other third are
seldom disturbed by differences.
The Swiss Confederation.
The early Swiss did not set up sover-
eign republic as understand that word
Switzerland is not republic; it is
federation: a political partnership of TWEEN
ty-two counties. One little community and
then three more established their independ-
ence and defed the wrath of tyrants, and
then their neighbors Joined from time to
incorporating three races and two
relgions-but united by common interests
and common aspirations joined in a common
cause. Three languages are still necessary
to express their thoughts. All official docu-
ments are printed in French. German and
italian. 1t is necessary to have interpre-
tiers in the Swiss congress. and almost
every village, town and city has different
versions of its name, one in each language.
The name of the CONFERENCE.-The
Is perpetual reminder of the early strug-
gle for liberty-like our battle OF Bunker
Hill. The first uprising. the first declara-
ton of independence. occurred in little
village named Schwiz near the ancient
castle of the Hapsburgs. the dukes who
ruled the country and founded the present
imperial dynasty of Austria. the ancestors
OF the present emperor. 1t is there that the
history OF Switzerland begins. The Eobles
OF Hapsburg inherited their authority from
the Romans. You will remember the
stirring events in Helvetia related in Gaze
sar's Commentaries. The Germans spell it
Schweiz: the French Suisse, the Italians
Svizzera and the English Switzerland. the
land of the Schwftzers. The coat of arms
OF the little village of Schwiz. white cross
upon a red ground became the national
flag of Switzerland. and its reverse. a red
cross upon white ground, the badge of
the greatest of international benevolences
Typical Swiss City.
Zurich. as have already said. is typ
ical Swiss city and illustrates the character
istics of the country. 1t is a manufacture
ing and commercial center, theological
storehouse and a seat of learning. 1t was
once strongly fortified and has been the
scene of terrific struggles between the
mountainers from the Alps and the APP
pennies. but its battlements and bastions
have been removed to make room Tor SILK
factories; its military barracks have been
transformed into technical schools and uni
versities and on the foundations OF the
wall that protected the ancient burghers
runs beautiful street, planted on both
sides with trees and inclosed with shops
that are the equal of those of Paris. The
situation of Zurich is picturesque, like that
OF Geneva, Interlaken, Thun, Lucerne and
Libau. at the end of beautiful lake, where
swift stream of steel-colored water 1ur-
nishes unlimited power for silk mills and
other factories.
All OF these mountain streams have the
exquisite tints. like the side OF a
polished razor People tell me 1t Is due to
the sand In solution, and that 1t grows less
pronounced the current subsidies and the
sand is precipitated to the bottom
The lake front Is given up to pleasure
and is ornamented with shaded promenades,
parks, casinos and tourist hotels. Business
does not intrude upon these pleasure
grounds; they are kept, like well-garnished
parlors for the of guests. while the
housework is done in the kitchen.
But every Tuesday and every Saturday
the entire town becomes market The
peasant women come in before daylight
with their fruits, flowers and vegetables and
occuply the pavement in the best streets
and the public squares until MONDAY. You
see the same thing everywhere. In
Berne and Geneva, with democratic sim