Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1873-05-10

There are now five republics on the Continent
OF Europe, with the rising promise of a sixth
in the North, where the free-spirited Scandina-
VANS are beginning to feel the pulsing vitality
Of modern progress and popular liberty The
Oldest aud smallest of the five republics is tho
little one Of San Marine, situated in Northern
Italy, and bounded on all sides by what we're
once the Papal States. 1t is about ten miles
from the AdriAtic, and contains only twenty-four
square miles, and about eight thousand inhabi-
tants. 1t was started in 469 A. D., by J ohm Mar
mus, Dalmatian hermit, who originally was a
Mason, and who settled here in the solitude of
the mountains, and being Joined by others, gave
to the little republic its origin aud name. II is
governed by a council Of sixty. who are chosen
for life, though the executive is lodged in two
of their number. appointed every six months
Beside its capital it has four villages.
The next is that of Andora, a small republic
OF the Pyrenees, which has kept up indepen-
dent existence ever since the days of Charlie
magne. 1t is enclosed between the Maladetta
and Moncal Mountains, which are about eleven
thousand feet high, the valley bel ween them be-
ing some forty by twenty-four miles in extent,
and containing about nine hundred and sixty
square miles. Its capital has some two thous-
and inhabitants, and since 1913 it has been gov
erned by twenty-four consuls, who represent and
are accountable to the people.
Besides these two republics, that of Switzer-
land has long been known. Three OF its Cam
tons seem to have been independent from their
origin, having been settled at a very early day
from Sweden, and to these others have from
time to time been added, till now there are
twenty Cantons or as these are divided, each
Into two half Cantons, there are now twenty
five States, the population of all OF which is
nearly three millions. Before 1913, Switzer-
land was Federal Union, but since that date it
has been Federal Republic, reserving to the
States all powers and rights not expressly dele
gated to the Confederacy. The legislative pow
or is vested in Federal Assembly, which con-
ssts Of q National Council and a Council of
States. The former is made up Of Deputies
from the people is chosen for three years, and
elects the President and Vice President. The
latter consists Of forty-four members, two for
each Canton, and one for every half Canton.
The Executive power is exercised by a FEEDER
al Council of seven members. The Budget of
Switzerland for 1860 showed receipts of ri $685.
566 francs, and expenditures Of p, 9l3, 1866
leaving deficiency OF 228, 200 francs, or about
cas-, 000.
The other republics of Europe are those of
France and SPAIN which have recently sprung
into existence, and the future OF which is yet a
problem. And now there are signs that Norway,
Denmark and Sweden are waking up to the re-
publican spirit in it's practical Manifestations.
In Norway, royalty has long been little but an
empty name, and in Denmark the palace is more
and more an unpopular institution, while in
fused to vote the cash necessary for a magnif-
cent coronation for the King, one Of the depu-
ties Directing to the proposed pageant on the
ground that lit was not worth while for Sweden
to make itself ridiculous" Royalty in every
part OF the Continent seems, as a violent radical
once said, 'lke a splendid iceberg that The
point OF pin might fracture and bring down"
Aud when it falls republicanism will rise upon
its ruins.