New-York tribune., 1909-12-05

was printed and sent thence 20 be dis
tributed in France. Chief among the
works complained Of were some epheme-
raj writings by Eugene Sue. the nov
eIlst, and Victor Hugo's famous ''Napo-
leon le Petit" In one OF his dispatches
the French Minister at Berne spoke OF
Hugo as "cet ansrchiste."
Almost oontemporaneously with this
international feud occurred the Mazzini
affair. IN which the Italians and French
had such an interest
Probably the most serious encounter
that Switzerland has had with respect
20 purely political refugees was the dis
pute with Germany concerning the Social
Democrats. who We're driven out by the
stringent police regulations of the en-
pire in ISIS and began 10 take up resi-
dence I'm several of the Swiss cantons.
Their papers in most cases were regular:
they professed 20 be seeking only an asy-
lum. but soon their leaders began an ac-
tive campaign against the German gov
eminent Thirty years ago the term
Social Democrat" had rather an omi-
tators made converts. formed groups.
had their allies In the empire. snug
gled revolutionary literature across the
frontier. and at length founded in Zurich
a newspaper called Der Sozialdemo-
krat' from the bureau Of which much
literature abusive of the imperial family
was supposed 10 emanate.
THE EDITORS EXPELLED.
Bismarck protested with great vigor.
and the Swiss side Of the case rsvas ably
represented by the Foreign Secretary,
Numa Droz. The attitude OF the latter
was strictly correct: the editors Of the
offending journal were expelled from
Swiss territory. although this act called
forth invective from their supporters.
who complained that the liberty OF the
PRESS had been violated. They also
made the charge that many Socialistic
agitations were not the bona f1de work
OF their party. but were caused by agents
provocsteurs sent by foreign govern
nients
Traces OF this socialistic immigration
have ever since been apparent. psrticu-
larly in the frontier cantons
The decline in the matchmaking in
dustry has thrown thousands OF men
and women out Of work. Tho demands
for recruits for the somewhat over
sized army. with consequent loss OF
work and wage. are swelling the ranks
Of the nti-militairistes Such a sea-
son as that which the Swiss have Just
passed through has curtsiled the earn
ings Of the vignerons and other agri-
culturists. There are loud and freuuaut
complaints about the increasing dear
ness Of living. Taxes are higher and the
amount OF farming land is limited. Cat
tie must be brought in large numbers
from France. Austria and Italy There
is a chronic tariff war with Germany
about the importation OF -four II IL
were not for the less fertile and more
picturesque districts. where huge hotels.
funicular railways and other artificial
devices exact a tribute from the stran-
ger there would be more distress. AS
il is, there is in most Of the eantous a
promising soil for the seed Of socialism.
In dealing with foreign agitatOrs.
however, the Swiss have always had
al uncommonly difficult task to per
form. Indeed, until the political police
was reorganized IN 1888 the central
government had its hands tied even in
dealing with anarchists. much more with
purely political agitators. Each can
ton claimed autonomy in such matters.
An italian disturber might. for example.
be expelled from Ticino and find ASYLUM
in Nalais without crossing the Swiss
frontier.
But by reforms carried out since 1883
full responsibility for foreign difficulties
OF the kind referred 70 has been lodged
with the federal government. notwith-
standing vigorous opposition on the part
Of the more radical cantons
But in spite Of the laws. lie Consen des
Etats is even now disputing as 10 the
manner IN which they should be exc
cuted. Nominally. Of course. the execu-
tive powers Of the federation belong Ia
the Federal Council but the President is
the officer charged with the conduct of
foreign affairs. Inasmuch as new Pres
ident is elected every year. there has AL
ways been a lack of uniformity and con-
unuity IN the policy pursued by Switzer-
land IN relation 10 other nations. whereas
the Bundesrath, or COnseil Federal is