Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/45

 THE SWISS AND THEIR POLITICS 31

to see evidences that the good citizens were doing their duty. But I learned to my surprise that what we especially mean by electioneering is a thing almost unknown among the Swiss. The crowds about the voting places were quietly talking about the weather, about their families, about the exposition. There was no reason why they should talk about the election, because it was considered entirely improper to try to persuade a citizen to vote a certain way. The citizen thus addressed would feel insulted. Two rival candidates would meet by chance in the crowd. For personal reasons they would naturally allude to the election. In a perfectly frank and straightforward way they would discuss their prospects. As there was no electioneer- ing anywhere there was no motive for lying about the probable result of the election. A would say to his rival, " I expect you to be elected by 900 majority." B would reply, " I don't think so ; I expect a close vote with almost even chances." It will not do to apply this conversation to the elec- tion which I attended. It is my recollection of the report of a conversation at another election. At the election which I attended the system of proportional representation was followed, and strictly speaking there were no rival candidates. I report the conversation simply to show the spirit which seemed every- where to prevail.

In 1865 there occurred an election in Geneva in which there must have prevailed a different spirit, because at the close of the election the members of the conservative party, who were vic- torious at that election, undertook to give expression to their feelings by marching through the streets. The procession was attacked by the Radicals ; deadly weapons were used and fifteen men were killed. This one event seems to have thrown the Genevese into a pensive state of mind from which they have never recovered. My escort to the first election alluded to it in such a way as to give me the impression that it occurred only a few years ago. Thoughtful people became convinced that unless something were done to break the force of party violence and give to the people the real management of their affairs,