The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-11
WILLIAM TO
VISIT SWITZERLAND

vanccs very gravely and slowly and
just lays its great paw nat upon the
speakers mouth. This method has
nevor failed thus far: and in view OF
the tortures suffered by people In this
country from ufterdinner orators, the
time-honored custom of Berno may be
commended for adoption. especially by
any city that, like the HelYetian mo-
tropolis. has bears for its hcraidic en-
blem.
AS in the case of President Fallieres's
state visit to Berne TWO or three years
ago, particular pains Will be taken to
impress upon Emperor William the
iact that the SWISS executive is not
the President alone; that is 10 say the
chairman of the Federal Council Tor
the time being, but the seven members
OF that Council, in their collective ca
pacity. The President has no authority
over his six colleagues, no power OF
compelling their obedience. their au-
thority being coequal with his own
ana they merely take ii III turns to
act as chairman, or President. Ii is
this condition of affairs that has stood
N the way Of the Swiss executives re-
turning the state visit OF President
taiileres. In Paris, and which will in
the same manner render difficult the
return OF the kaisers impending visit
|. 1t is appreciated that for all the
seven members of the Federal Council
! to proceed in u body to tho French me-
tropolis would constitute strain up
| on the hospitality Of their hosts, and
would, moreover, prove source Of
embarrassment to the latter, in con-
ncction with problems Of ceremonial
precedence. etc,
on the other hand. 1t is feared at
vi ttVgfs.
land, That If the President were to go
to Paris alone, Us tho represen tutiv G
CT the republic. n false Impression
would be created abroad concerning his
own status and that OF the Federal
Council. Popular sentiment In Switzer-
iahd is strongly opposed to-day. as It
mas always been, TO concentration OF
power in any one Individual. and to tho
undue prominence OF the personal Gle
Ment III tho rulcrship OF the republic.
NO Switzor forScts the dying injuuc-
ton oil Pctermann GundeldinEcn one
| OF the heroes of tho War of Liberation.
who when mortally wounded at the
pattlc of Sempach. in 1887, adjured his
! ieiiow patriots never to place too much
| OF the executive power in the hands OF
any one man. and above all never 10
permit any ono TO hold the most con-
spicuous Office in the republic for mora
| than twelve months
This VIII not be the IIaisers first
official visit to Switzerland He paid
one, never yet returned. and lasting eX-
molly four hours, nineteen years ago,
F.! that is to say. in 1898, on his way back
d from Italy to Germany. only a com
rany OF the Federal army which is I'm
reality militia. was mobilizcd for the
occasion, and SIX of the superior Of
iicers, with Colonel Keller, chief of
the general STAFF. at their head, were
! deputed to await the Emperor ana En-
press al Zuciien. Tho kaiser. greatly
TO the modification of the company of
the army which had been called to arms
to serve as a guard of honor, waived
the Inspection thereof. The imperial
party then went on board the steamer
! Stadt Lucerne, on which they rode down
Z the Lake of the -Four Cantons, reaching
/ Lucerne at 10 o'clock in the morning.
/ There the President and his six col
| leagues of the Federal Council, all in
evening dress, met them. \ bcvy OF
niaidcns presented floral tributes but
the wives of the President ana of his
colleagues did not appear TO greet the
Empress. They are, as a rule. simple
folk court etiquette and ceremonial
have nothing but terrors for them, and
their husbands official stipcnds. 81, 500
apiece, are not calculated to afford the
whercwithal for special toiiettcs. The
dcieuner at the hotel AT Lucernc lasted
| thrcc-quartors of an hour. a quarter
! Of an hour more was devoted to leave
taking. Official presentations and the
| drive TO the station. aud then the inn
perial train started for Berlin.
No attempt was made 10 lily the naval
! ilnS of Switzerland from the steamer
on which the Kaiser and his consort
traversed the Lake OF the -Four Can
| tons. Yet Switzerland has u small
navy. consisting of gunhoats, employ
ed Tor revenue ana police purposes.
Formerly the navy WAS quite an inn
portant affair. and was maintained par
| ticulariy on tho Lake OF Geneva. for
defending the coasts Of the republic
AGAINST the Duke of Savoy whose
doninions likewise bordered on Lake
Leman. The naval academy OF the re-
public was situated at MorGes. and the
last admiral of the Swiss navy to hold
the oi!icc-it was ut the close of the
eighteenth ccntury--was patriciun OF
the name of Dc Crousa1. This shows
that it is not necessary for a sovereign
state TO have seabourd. 10 have both
navy and an admiral
Copyright, 1912, by the Brentwood
Company.D