PROSPERITY AND DEMOCRACY IN SWITZERLAND.
IN two former notices of Dr. BOWRI NG'S Report on the Commerce and Manufactures of Switzerland, we drew attention to the _general prosperity of that country, and the rapid growth of its trade. This prosperity exists under a form of government which in most of the Cantons h essentially democratie,—a fact e hich must be far from satisfactory to the rulers of the surrounding countries, whose aim is to impress their subjects with the notion that property is secure, and commercial success attainable only under a system which excludes the great body of the people from all control of' their political all'airs. The state of Switzerland is a contradiction of this dogma ; for Switzerland is at the same time Republican, flourishing, and internally peaceful ; except when it suits the policy of her jealous neighbours to foment disorder within her territory, and pick quarrels with her Diet. There are twenty-two Swiss Cantons, each possessing distinct political institutions. In a majority, the electoral suffiage is universal—in all, very widely diffused. In Appenzel, none but minors and public criminals are excluded from voting; and ti e whole constituent body is assembled at stated periods to confirm or reject the laws passed in the Great Council of their Representatives. Dr. BOWRI NG gives the following account of the mode of preceeding in this Landsgemeinde, or gathering of the people.
" The Landsgemeinde of 11835 was held at Ilundwil, an elevated Alpine village, and four laws were referred to its democratic sanction. The first, for the introduction of a general system of procedure for the recovery of debts, instead of those varyilig awl local usages which had hitherto existed in the canton, was sanctioned by a great majority of votes ; the second, for simplifying the mortgage laws, was adopted almost unanimously ; the third, for facilitating the recovery of accepted bills of exchange, was also favourably received ; while the foot ti,, which proposed modifications in the system of taxation, was rejected, principally on the ground that it excepted state and communal property from the genetal taxation. The manner of voting is by raising the baud : in case of doubt, the pros • and cons are divided into two separate bodies. Every individual conies ( 17 »led to the assembly, as the right of arnis•bearing is the test of citizenship. At the Landsgemeinde of 1&35, the laws propirmd to the popular vote consisted of (JO artieles, 59 of which were adopted and one rejected. The
minority submitted to the majority with pm feet deference and witl out a murmur. At this great public assembly, all bankrupts, paupers, Fee. are excluded. The sense of the privilege of we:wing arms and the exeleise of the popular so
vereignty is 50 strong, that no citizen is absent who is able to attend. Indeed, non-attendance is held to be an offence; and an A ppenzeller is excluded for twelve
months from proceeding in a eivii case of debt, if his adversary can prove that he was nut present at the Landsgemeinde, unless lie can justify his absence by valable reasons."
Zurich was formerly one of the aristocratic Cantons; but ia 1330, its consti;tition underwent a change which rendered it decidedly democratic. The results of the revolution "we been manifested in the advanced prosperity of the Canton.
" In a report I received from the Government on the effects of the late changes, they state, that notwithstanding the low mice of corn, agriculture was flourishing, and manufactures had made rapid and mighty strides. This was the more satisfactory, as the whole people had been called to the electoral suffrage ; and their opinions, whether right or wrong, would necessarily have an immediate and direct effect upon the legislation of the country. Not only in the elections, but even in the constituent assemblies, the vote by ballot, which is called the only security for individual independence,' is employed. Against the extension of suffrage no complaints have been raised, and, generally, the character and talents of the Representative Assembly have been elevated by the change. Greater efforts have been made for the extension of education than ever were made before ; and though in some of the rural districts religious passion has not been without influence, it has been controlled by the general good sense of the people. The principles of commercial libel ty have been placed on firmer bases than at any fanner period."
The constitution of the Canton of Neuchatel is very singular, and on more than one occasion has been productive of a good deal of embarrassment.
"The principality of Neuchatel, though forming one of the confederated Cantons of Switzerland, recognizes the sovereignty of the King of Prussia, and pays to him an annual tribute of 70,000 Neuchatel francs, amounting to about 40001. sterling. The representative body is nominated by the people, on a very extensive suffrage, with freedom and publicity of debate, and perfect independence in the exercise of the electoral franchise. All the administrative functionaries are, however, nominated by the King of Prussia, and upon their nomination no veto is exercised by the Legislature. The budgets are voted by the Great Council, or the assembled Deputies of the people, for whose account the imposts are received through agents nominated by the King ; his representative has the title of Governor, and many of the members of the legislative body hold offices to which they have been named by the Prussian Monarch. The principality does not form a part of the German commercial league, but has certain privileges and immunities allowed to its exports when they pass the Prussian frontier with certificates of Neuchatel origin. Each Canton is represented in the Diet by one or more Deputies, but has only a single vote. Dr. BOWRI NG says— "Many attempts have been made to give more influence to a central authority; and there can be no doubt that commercial relations would be benefited, and communications increased and improved, by some general and uniform plan of legislation, which should facilitate transactions between the different Cantons, without interfering with the local governments. But the resistance to any system of centralization and unity has been so strong, and the apprehension. of encroachments on the part of any general government upon the sovereign independent authority of the different Cantons so widely spread, that all proposals for modifying the Federal Convention have hitherto failed." Among the many advantages which the Swiss reap from their Republican institutions, none is more conspicuous than the cheapness of their respective governments. In Argovia, the population is '200,000; the cost of government, including the support of the church, is 45,0001., or 4s. 6d. per head. In Vaud, the total expenditure for 177,000 people is 41,000/.; the church costing about 13,000/. of that sum. In Geneva, the charge per head is about 16s. In Zurich, it is 4s. 10d. ; the cost of the church in Zurich being only ed. per individual, the military establishment 6d., the civil government led.; the poor-rate 21d. per head. Particulars of this description might be multiplied; but enough has been said, when taken in connexion with our previous account of the commercial prosperity and social happiness of the Swiss, to justify the jealousy of the Continental despots, and, we should hope, to diminish the alarm which certain well-meaning but timorous politicians in England feel at the spread of democratic opinions at home and abroad.
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