they take, should the evil work be accomplished?
Did they expect to thrive better singly--each canton to face the world
and all its manifold interests alone, or did they mean to cling
together, a few here, a few there, one nation broken up into half a
dozen nations? Did they expect that any future union could be closer and
dearer than that which had already held together for generations men of
the same blood and language; men who had suffered and triumphed
together? He warned them that if the evil spirit of disunion and strife
were now let loose and encouraged by themselves, they must not expect it
to end its work to-day, to stop short at the very hour they required it
to sleep again; like all other evil influences, it must either be
checked and controlled, or the fatal poison must spread farther and
farther, until it ended in utter anarchy and confusion. It is not for
man, made of the dust of the earth, to rouse evil and accursed passions,
and bid them go thus far and no farther. He implored them to let no
narrow, selfish, momentary interest blind them to interests immeasurably
higher, and more lasting. It remained for the men of that generation to
say whether the crisis should be a fatal one or not; it lay within their
power to steer the ark of their country's hopes safely over a stormy
sea, or purposely, deliberately, wilfully, to rush on the breakers,
until that noble, honored fabric foundered for ever. Evil passions,
suspicion, envy, jealousy, wrath, had too often, in the history of the
world, worked out general, public misery: but he trusted there was yet
within the bosom of their own people wisdom, patience, and moderation
sufficient to carry them safely through the storm. He called upon every
good man, every honest man, who could rise superior to the selfishness
of the race, to move and act in the blessed cause of peace and concord.
He advised them to look each at his own post and duty, and to meddle
less with those of his neighbors; he implored them, for conscience'
sake, not to be so ready with mutual suspicion and recrimination. He
warned them that whatever evils were to be remedied, the task must be
undertaken calmly and dispassionately to be well done.

Then proceeding to the subjects immediately under discussion, he
continued: "Let not the towns insist on claims which are injurious to
the old confederates. Let the rural cantons bear in mind how Soleure and
Friburg fought by their side, and received them fr