Such a festival takes place every second year. Then, thirty thousand free, warlike men, the best marksmen from all parts of the land, the “élite” of Switzerland’s defenders, assemble with their rifles, which they handle with more skill than any other nation. They represent in fact the best men of their nation, the bodyguard of law and order, the rampart against hostile aggressions, and the stay of popular commotions. In such a noble assembly many a wise word is spoken, many an idea exchanged and corrected. The actions of the administration are subjected to a sharp but judicious and just criticism; you will not hear there ostentatious speeches, nor see noisy demonstrations. They do not pass resolutions such as we are wont to see in our country—a small clique of petty politicians announcing to the people that: The People of the State, . . . . resolved, etc.; but calmly they reason and reflect on what would be beneficial to all sections of the country, and after having reconciled the opposing interests of all, they go home and work each in his circle for the realization of their ideas. There is a principle—not of blind opposition to actions, whether good or bad, simply because they proceed from another party—but the principle of doing justice to all, of upholding the rights of all, and of reconciling opposing interests. A people that has been educated in such principles and acts in accordance with them has reached the perfection of republicanism, and need not fear either internal or external foes. Every American patriot may take example from this little Alpine race; and since every one, man or woman, is by nature an educator, whether as director of a household, or as a teacher of other men’s children, let us all unite in educating the growing generation in the right way, and our beloved country shall never again see brothers in arms against brothers.
Many a corrupt official has feared the criticism of the assembly of the Swiss sharp-shooters, and whatever “the men have resolved at the festival,” is usually adopted by the people and carried through in a judicious, constitutional way.
At the above-mentioned day Zurich was all in a glee; the city adorned with flags, triumphal arches and evergreens, the streets thronging with people in Sunday dress who had come from far and wide to participate in the popular feast. The shrill sound of an engine is heard, and soon after the first company of guests from abroad forms in line at the railroad station. It is the delegation from the Bremen sharp-shooters, who have come from the far north of Germany to meet their brethren of the south. They are enthusiastically received by the crowd, the mayor addresses them and gives them a cordial welcome to the land of freedom. After one of their number has replied to the speech, the mayor leads the guests to a tent and invites them to partake of some refreshments; the best of native wines from the “Rathskeller” are offered, and many a toast spices the nectar.
An hour later the flag of the Swiss sharp-shooters is received and unfolded, while shouts and the roar of cannon rend the air. As we stated before, the festival of the United Sharp-shooters comes off once in two years, city and canton taking their turns. Two years before, in July, 1857, it had been celebrated in Berne, and the flag had remained there until now, when a deputation from Berne delivers it to the sharp-shooters of Zurich, to be kept by them for the next two years; and so on.
As soon as the banner is unfurled the procession is formed, and the banner and guests are escorted to the City Hall, preceded by bands of music playing national airs. What a glorious sight! Man and nature seem to revel together in joy. The bright morning sunshine gleams from the polished rifles and a thousand flags wave in the light breeze, while the procession is accompanied by crowds of men and women, boys and rosy-cheeked girls who, dressed in white and decked with red ribbons, in the national costume and colors, add an element of bewitching beauty to the scene.
Meanwhile other companies of riflemen have arrived, and the lake is still covered with festively-adorned gondolas that are continually adding to the crowd of guests. At 10 o’clock the procession is again formed. It leaves the city and moves toward the “Seefeld,” a large meadow on the shore of the lake, a short distance from the city. Here an immense hall has been erected. Behind it are arranged the targets and shooting-stands, and opposite we see a neat structure in the form of a temple, with many large windows, in which are exhibited the prizes, disposed in the most attractive manner. These prizes are of the value of 104,407 francs, and are the contributions of all parts of the world—every corner where a few Swiss are to be found, having furnished some small gift in honor of the national festival.
The procession halts in front of the temple. The Bernese deliver into the hands of the Zurich delegation the flag of the Swiss Rifle Corps, and Colonel Kurtz, of Berne, thus briefly addresses them: “When two years ago this flag was delivered into our safe keeping, peace reigned all around us; and but just now our country has come forth victoriously from a crisis in which we have shown, as, we had never done before, that we are one band of brethren.[5] What we have hoped for is now realized, and we can carry this flag—the banner of the largest association in Switzerland—to the beautiful lake whose blue waters play around our sister town. We of Berne have held this flag in peace. Who knows whether you will be as fortunate, or whether you will be forced to plant it on the highest pinnacle of your good city, as a sign that the fatherland is in danger and calls upon her sons to defend her. Relentless war rages now on our borders;[6] we know not whether the storm will pass over, or the thunderbolt strike in our midst.”
Dr. Dubs replies in a brilliant speech: “We receive this banner and shall defend it. We are ready now for a joyous feast, and as ready at any time for the war-dance. Let the trumpet sound and Zurich’s men will be the first in the field to lead you on to victory or death!” etc.
Thus was the festival opened. A dinner had been prepared in the hall, to which all marksmen, whether from home or abroad, were invited. This hall is a wooden structure of large dimensions, open at the sides, with a wide passage running through the middle, intersected by several narrow ones. In the middle of the building is a magnificent fountain. The whole remaining space is filled with tables and benches of unvarnished pine, at which 6,000 persons may be conveniently seated and served, A platform hung with Swiss banners is so placed that the speakers can be heard through the whole hall, and many a wise word has been thence spoken that met a ready response from both present and distant brethren. Behind this platform is raised a lofty gallery for the music. Here the bands play soul-stirring chorals and national tunes, and when the “Marseillaise,” or other similar air is heard, a chorus of thousands of voices accompanies enthusiastically the instruments. It is in fact a feast of the people; unity, peace and joy reign everywhere. There may be seen men of different religious and political creeds, embracing each other in brotherly concord. Men whose language is Italian from the southern cantons, and men who speak French from the west, and German from the northern, eastern, and middle cantons, form one family, though their localities, institutions, and interests may differ widely. The words which Schiller, in his well-known historical drama, “Tell,” causes Rösselmann to express—
“By this fair light, which greeteth us before