THE INITIATIVE IN SWITZERLAND.
(To THE EDITOR OF THE " sricarnon.1 tSra.,—On Sunday, August 20th, a question of some interest 'from various standpoints was decided in Switzerland. It eeems that in one of the Cantons the Jewish method of :slaughtering animals for food had been condemned and for- bidden. As the result of a series of appeals, the matter was referred to the people, and a plebiscite took place. By 180,000 votes against 120,000, the decision has gone against the Jews, who number some 80,000. That the majority was snot larger, seems to have been due to the fact that the Roman 'Chureh appears to have thrown its weight in support of religions liberty. Here in the village of Monschact, on the Lake of Lucerne, the able and admirable priest took this line, and, in consequence, there were two more votes against a .change than for it.
The Jewish method of slaughter, as described here, is .exceedingly brutal. The ox, e.g., is thrown on its back, the legs being raised by ropes attached to a ring in the roof, and the neck is bent forward and cut open. Death frequently .does not ensue, they say, for ten minutes.
The whole situation is extremely suggestive, and raises interesting points for consideration,—e.g., increase of sensi- tility to pain inflicted, limits of religious freedom, can -cruelty be religious ? aspects of food-provision, modes of qslaughter, the voice of the people, and gain of so direct an
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