The Rise of the Swiss Republic
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THE RISE
OF
THE SWISS REPUBLIC
A History
BY
W. D. McCRACKAN, M. A.
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BOSTON, MASS.
ARENA PUBLISHING COMPANY
1892
Copyright, 1892
By William D. McCrackan
All rights reserved
ARENA PRESS
THIS VOLUME
IS DEDICATED
TO
My Dear Wife
THE CONSTANT COMPANION OF MY TRAVELS AND RESEARCHES AND MY TRUEST CRITIC AND ADVISER.
INTRODUCTION.
THE study of federalism as a system of government has, in recent times, become a favorite subject for constitutional writers. At present the United States and the Dominion of Canada on this continent, the newly constituted Australian Commonwealth at the Antipodes, and in Europe the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Swiss Confederation are all examples of the application of the federal principle in its various phases. What makes all researches into this branch of political learning particularly difficult, and, perhaps, for that reason, also exceptionally fascinating, is the fact that federated states seem forever oscillating between the two extremes of complete centralization and decentralization. The two forces, centripetal and centrifugal, seem to be always pulling against each other, and producing a new resultant which varies according to their proportionate intensity. One is almost tempted to say that there must be an ideal state somewhere between these two extremes, some point of perfect balance, from which no nation can ever depart very far, without either falling apart into anarchy or being consolidated into despotism. Whatever, therefore, can throw a light upon these obscure forces is certainly entitled to our deepest interest.
But not all representatives of federalism possess an equal value for us, in our search after improvements in the art of self-government. The study of the constitutions of the German and AustroHungarian Empires can only be of secondary importance to us Americans, because these states are founded upon monarchical principles, quite foreign to our body politic. To a limited extent, the same objection may be made to the Canadian and Australian constitutions, since the connection of those countries with the monarchical mother-country has not been constitutionally severed. But there is another federated state in existence, until lately almost ignored by writers on political subjects, whose example can, in reality, be of the utmost service to us. The Swiss Confederation is as near as possible a counterpart in miniature of the United States. Prof. Albert Bushnell Hart, in his “Introduction to the Study of Federal Government”, declares with justice that, “Of all the confederations of history, Switzerland bears the closest resemblance in institutions to the United States.”[1]
Within two years, by what seems like an extraordinary revival of interest, four books have appeared in English devoted to the elucidation of Swiss political institutions, but the history of the country still awaits scholarly and scientific treatment. It is, in fact, the misfortune of Swiss history, that although very little is popularly known about it, that little is almost invariably incorrect. The subject has so long lain neglected in the literary garret that cobwebs have gathered over it and obscured the truth.
There is a widespread but vague idea that a regularly organized republic has existed in the Alps from time immemorial, under the name of Helvetia. Nothing could be more misleading—for, as a matter of fact, the territory now known as Switzerland had no separate political existence prior to the end of the thirteenth century, and its condition resembled that of Central Europe in general. The Swiss Confederation made its entry upon the historic stage in 1291, when three small and obscure peasant communities, Uri, Schwiz, and Unterwalden, concluded a perpetual pact in order to defend themselves against the encroachments of the nobility in general, and of the family of Habsburg in particular. As for the Celtic tribe of the Helvetii, who inhabited a part of the country when it is first mentioned by Roman writers, they had no more to do with founding the Swiss Confederation, than had the Indians in America to do with framing the Constitution of the United States.
Around the three communities of Uri, Schwiz, and Unterwalden, as a nucleus, the Swiss Confederation grew, in course of time, by the adherence of other sovereign communities, until it reached its present proportion of twenty-two Cantons in 1815. The very name of Switzerland was unknown before the fifteenth century, when, for the first time, the eight states which then composed the Confederation began to be called collectively “Die Schweiz”, after the community of Schwiz, which was the most pronounced in its opposition to the pretensions of the German nobility. It was not until 1648, by the Peace of Westphalia, that the complete independence of the Swiss from the German Empire was established beyond question.
There is another fact which must be borne in mind, namely, that Swiss self-government, in the opinion of the writer the most perfect yet devised by any free people, is Teutonic in character, like that of England and the United States. Although Switzerland is now a polyglot state, and her constitution expressly stipulates that German, French and Italian shall all alike be considered national languages, the majority of the inhabitants are German-speaking, and it was from them that the original impulse toward independence made itself felt. The other Romance-speaking Cantons were acquired by conquest, and were not admitted on a footing of equality until the beginning of the present century.
It is, indeed, surprising to notice how that country, with whose name we are accustomed to associate some of our noblest conceptions of liberty, has run up the gamut of self-government, striking all the intervening notes between complete subjugation and unquestioned independence. The history of the Swiss Confederation presents for our inspection six centuries of growth from the very rudiments of liberty to its full flower in the present day. It furnishes a veritable catalogue of priceless precedents for our edification and guidance, and the indifference with which it has heretofore been viewed by English-speaking scholars is, therefore, inexcusable.
Of course, the prevailing neglect of this promising historical field is susceptible of certain explanations, which do not, however, condone the fault of the neglect itself.
Switzerland is visited for the sake of its scenery; for recreation, not for study. The Swiss people themselves do not, at first sight, invite interest, nor does the national character stimulate the imagination. Public affairs are managed with so much moderation and sobriety that the attention of the world at large is not attracted to them. The country is too small, and apparently insignificant, amid the great powers of Europe, to arouse the enthusiasm of the superficial observer.
And. yet, how disproportionately large has been the share of Switzerland in the work of overthrowing the feudal system, of hastening the triumph of the common people over the privileged few, and turning great world-tendencies definitely toward democracy! How the victories of the peasantry at Morgarten and Sempach, where the flower of Austrian chivalry was utterly defeated, lighted up the gloom which brooded over the serfs of the middle ages! How Zwingli and Calvin strove to emancipate the human conscience from ecclesiastical tradition, and how such men as Lavater, Rousseau, and Pestalozzi, each after his own fashion, laid the foundation for that great study of humanity which has distinguished our own century!
The issue constantly at stake, throughout the history of the Swiss Confederation, has been one of the noblest and the most persistent with which human nature has had to grapple—the question of self-government. In these days Switzerland has become the standard-bearer in all reforms which make for direct democracy and pure politics. Her historical development ought, therefore, to be fully known and duly appreciated by American scholars.
CONTENTS.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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