The Constitution, with the evolution through Federal laws made necessary by it, contains much detail, showing the mind of the German race therein. It is not confined to an enunciation of general principles, but determines specifically and at length, with some confusion of repetition and at times distressing prolixity, many things which, under a general provision, might have been clearly interpreted to belong, as the case might be, to either the Federal or Cantonal authority. It contains a large number of articles which have no reference to the distribution or exercise of sovereign power, but which embody general maxims of policy or special provisions as to matters of detail, to which the Swiss attach great importance, and which therefore they do not wish to be easily alterable. It goes far beyond that of the United States in inscribing among constitutional articles either principles or petty rules which are supposed to have a claim of legal sanctity. It gives to the Federal authorities power and supervision over a variety of special interests; a system that may work well in a small country, but not in one so large as the United States, with such diversified and local aspects. For these reasons the text of the Swiss Constitution is not so brief,[27] nor its language so terse, as that of the United States, which a famous English statesman has called, “The most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.” The Swiss Constitution leaves little room for contention in the construction of its phraseology, meaning the same thing to-day, to-morrow, and forever. Its written provisions, stipulations, and guarantees leave little room for the exercise of “doubtful powers.” With such a mass of detail, the Confederation is not competent to act directly; the execution of much is left to the Cantons acting under the supervision of the Federal authorities, which only interfere where the former neglect or refuse to fulfil their obligation.