LECTUEE ON SWITZERLAND 125 



Take the agitation of this cauton in connection with the fact that in 

 the eight cantons having a popular form of government, there were no 

 revohitious in 1830, the last marked i^eriod in the i)rogress of these 

 governments, and the lesson becomes even more instructive. 



How much do we not owe to onr forefathers, who in establishing our 

 republican system threw oif the trammels of the Old World, and removed 

 all such obstacles to our progress ! How clear their view of republican 

 institutions when compared with those of the men of Europe, even in 

 the present day! 



One of the most important engines in the improvement of Switzer- 

 land is the " Helvetic Society for public ntility." * Its branches are scat- 

 tered over the whole country, meeting frequently and maintaining a 

 correspondence with the parent society through the medium of com- 

 mittees. Delegates from the local associations meet in different parts 

 of the country in turn, and discuss questions connected with education, 

 l)olitical economy, and the general welfare of the country. The reports 

 made at these meetings and the information laid before them are 

 printed and disseminated through the confederation by the branch soci- 

 eties. Independently of the influence thus exerted upon and through 

 the reading community, the intercourse of enlightened men of different 

 cantons is beneficial to the country, and the congregation of great and 

 patriotic spirits has a good effect in the place of meeting. In the sum- 

 mer of 1837 this society met at Geneva, and then for the first time some 

 of the statesmen of the German cantons met their fellow-citizens of the 

 French frontier. The first meeting in the illuminated botanic garden, 

 the mornings in the representative hall devoted to discussions, the gen- 

 eral meetings for meals, the soirees and suppers, each served in their 

 place, (for the Swiss, like the English, Germans, and Americans, love 

 good cheer,) to promote the objects of the meeting. The subjects dis- 

 cussed in the council hall, show exactly the point to which the country 

 has advanced. They were the importance of agricultural schools, and 

 of schools for teachers, of saving-banks or funds, and the question 

 whether those who in time of plenty (like the Pharaohs of old) hoard 

 lip grain to sell it at an advance in seasons of scarcity should not rather 

 be considered benefactors of the public than objects of mob violence. 

 The influence of high character was beautifully illustrated in one of 

 these morning meetings. A warm debate had arisen upon the report 

 of a committee projiosing to establish schools under the direction of the 

 society. The more the subject was discussed the further men's opin- 

 ions api^eared asunder. The keen politician of Geneva, with French 

 vivacity, had made his declamation and ended with a i)hrase; the enthu- 

 siastic clergyman of Vaud, with somewhat of the old Calvin fire, had 

 replied; the veteran philanthropist of St. Gall had laid down the doc- 

 trine by which he intended sturdily to abide. Union seemed impossible 

 and discord probable, when there rose, near the president's chair, a man 



* Gem^mniitziffe GeselLschaft. 



