The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1874-07-19
San Marine.

bu0e0 clGlZenH Oh u young anu vast fSepu OnC,
would recall the existence of this, the smallest
but most ancient commonwealth of Europe
and for the sake of it's antiquity and its insti-
tutions would pay it visit of reverence and
sympathy.
1t lies in the eastern part of Italy, overlook
ing the Adriatic Sea, and consists of craggy
mountain 22OO feet high, on the summit of
which the town of San Marino is situated.
There, on Its mountain-throne, protected by
the Pontif of Rome, when he was at once the
ruler as well as the Father of Christendom,
this miniature Republic has preserved for fif.
teen hundred years, its liberties and its peace
Archbishop spaldiDg once gave an able and
eloquent lecture in regard to San Marino, in
which he held it up as an example of republi-
can principles and democratic institutions
fostered aud protected by the Catholic Church.
We are not able to find the article, which we
much regret, as We would have been enabled
to extract from its pages very valuable infor-
nation. Addison visited the Republic and
gave, in his own elegant style, glowing de-
scription of its customs and people 30 that
San Marino is, in our Imagination, more like o
dream of Paradise, than beautiful reality
among the Appenine hills of Italy.
The history of it's foundation is, that in the
time of Diocletian, during the tenth persecu-
ton of the Christians, Marino, stone-mason
who had come from Dalmatia with many of
his countrymen to rebuild the city of Rimini,
being persecuted by the cruel edicts of the
Emperor, fed for refuge with many of his
companions, to the neighboring hill, and there
spent the rest of his life in prayer and deeds
of heroic virtue. The italian princess on
lrD1 Ian fIa Z:
Titano, being herself Christian, gave it,
with the territory about its base to the little
band of exiles, who, hiding withing it's rough
| recesses, had preserved inviolate their holy
| faith. We do not know if Marino was canon
| lied by any other than the public voice, but
after his death the mountain received his
name, and q church was built above his VEN
cradle remains.
At one time, San Marino was only one of the
| many republics into which Italy was divided !;
but as the centuries rolled on, it saw them one
by one, deprived of all their liberties, while it
con tinued prosperous and Independent. At
this moment it must look with startled wonder
on the usurpation of that petty tyrant who
has dared to rob even the States of the Church,
| acquired, like. its own territory, by deed of
gift alone; and under whose fostering care
its long centuries of existence rolled most
peacefully away.
| Its constitution provides for two presidents,
one for the government of the city, the other
for that of the country. These officers are
elected semi-annually, and the incumbents of
| these supreme posts cannot be reelected until
| after an interval of three years. The Arengo,
or great Council, consists of one representa-
tive from every family in the Republic, and is
called together, in cases of emergency, by the
ringing of large bell, whose tones can be
easily heard all over the territory of San Mar
! ipo. The few officers of this poor and simple
State, are appointed by the presidents; and
are the physicians, the schoolmasters, and
the commissary judge of all civil and
criminal matters. These three positions
must be filled only by foreigners-natives of
some other Italian State. One physician
Think of the honor and responsibility belong
ing to such an office but at the height of 220O
feet above the levi of the sea, we can readily
understand that the labors of tie physician
are not very arduous.
One schoolmasterl And yet all travellers
testify, and Addison also writes, that they
"scarcely met with any in the place that had
not q tincture Of learning" That one school
master must have had very dociIe and indus
trious pupils. :
| The judge, who is maintained at the public
expense, must be foreigner See how clear
sighted these ancient people are. In so small
place, where each man knows every body
else, and has many family ties or connec-
tions or acquaiptances, it is indeed wise ar
| ran cement that he who is to judge all civil
| and criminal matters, should be unbiased by
| associations of birth, bond of kindred, or
recollections of friendship. Justice is ad-
| ministered speedily and effectively yet in 1919
! an English traveller mentions that there was
| actually but one prisoner in the place, whose
offense was trihing and whose treatment was
mild.
There is o story told of a Venetian, to whom
citizen of the Republic owed asum of money,
which had been demanded many times in vain.
At last the Venetian was advised to apply
directly to one of the Presidents of the bill.
He, therefore, sought out the town and re-
quested to be brought before the first dignitary
| of the State. He was accordingly conducted
to the residence of the President, whom he