eely into the
confederacy. Beware of intrigues, confederates! Beware of discord! Far
be it for any to sacrifice his father-land for selfish interests of his
own."

The old man paused. The better intentioned of the deputies, who had been
silenced by the violence of their companions, pressed about him. He
repeated his counsels; he entered more particularly into the subjects of
dispute; more and more gathered to the ranks of peace; and, in short, it
is a matter of history that the earnest address of the good man worked
an entire change in the temper of the Diet. In one hour's time the
country was saved. It may be doubted whether there is on record, in the
whole course of history, so striking an instance of the influence of
disinterested wisdom upon a public assembly at a moment so critical.
Probably, such an incident could only occur in a simple state of
society, where legislative pride and legislative weakness had not made
such rapid strides as in later times. Happily for Switzerland, the
question was decided on the spot; during that same day's session every
subject under debate was peaceably settled. The confederacy was saved.
Friburg and Soleure were received into the union. The venerable Nicholas
had proposed that territorial conquests should be shared according to
cantons, and the other spoil according to the population; both questions
were immediately decided in accordance with this plan. Other points were
amicably settled; and, instead of a fatal rupture, a covenant was
entered into, since called the "Covenant of Stantz," by which the bonds
of union were drawn closer. The deputies separated in a friendly temper,
and the happy news of reconciliation spread rapidly through the quiet
valleys and busy towns, while from the Alps to the Jura, the bells of
town-house, church, and convent, poured forth over hill and dale their
grateful peal of national joy.

To the present day the Swiss thankfully recur to the 22d of December,
1481, and the appeal of Nicholas von der Flue to the Diet of Stantz, as
a memorable epoch in their history. Certainly the incident is very
remarkable, and almost without a parallel in history. To us of the
present day, when revolution and violence are rife, when invective and
accusation form the common speech of public writers and public speakers,
to us of these days of controversy the fact that the personal character
and wisdom of one man should have pacified and influenced to such a
degree a storm