The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-09-04

of $50 Years-iiow il Is tSovefncd-iis Standing
Army Of Thirty Mcil-A Nation Without Press.
La Republiea di San Marino, the roots
Of whose history run down to the days Of
Charlemagne, lies about twelve miles south
west from Rimini, and about four miles
from the shores Of the Adriatic, in Italy.
correspondent writes
The republic proper stretches over
territory seventeen miles long aud about |
half that width, and has a population, all
told, of about 5000 people, the capital,
where we were, having about 900 Of them.
They were governed by council Of sixty,
0 which is a close corporation, nominally
r composed of twenty princes, twenty Of the
b middle class, aud twenty Of the peasant
class, but in point Of fact, as | afterward
: learned-and, indeed, as might be inferred
from the fact that they themselves filed all
e vacancies, and the people had no more to
do with the choice Of the members Of con-
grcss--all were mobiles and if you were to
address one otherwise than as "nobilissi-
mo, you had better not have addressed
him at all. gathered that the real dis
is tinction was that twenty were taken from
n the landed gentry, twenty from the town
VI gentry, and twenty promiscuously from any
or part Of the territory.
This council, independent Of all human
n. control from above or below, elects two
executive officers, who are called captains
~ regent; it designates all executive commit
tees, imposes taxes-in fact, conducts the
- government The regents receive no pay
another evidence that San Marino is not
a republic, after els Atlantic ideas at any
. rate.
i, Ny readers are doubtless already impa
tient to know something of the army, whicl
for 800 years has dehed the maniiol'
id' elements OF disorder that have been fatl
10 10 so many dyuasties and dismembered $
as many larger and more populous territorie
in Europe. The military defense, then
Of the republic Of San Marino is committe
ork to a regular army of thirty men, who ar
ied supposed to be always ready to respond
low the call of honor or of patriotism.
Re. A police consisting Of FIVE or six pei
bic sons protects the property of the territory
aud gives peaceful slumbers to its homes
burghers. In emergencies the militia Q
the the country may be called in aid of II
nu- ltSlpuHk lucy hAfS wv
judges, who are, however, required by la'
%. ess to be taken from without the territory, an
NV are changed every three years. But a
w. cases Of appeal are decided by the court Q
low causation, or review, in the neighborin
de. cities Of Bologna, Padua, Turin or where
ever that tribunal may chance to be sittinI
m at the time.
II The currency in use among them, also
u, is that of the Italian government. The,
had once some sous coined, the equiyalen
ia value Of our cent--my host at the inI
ii. gave me two or three Of them; but the,
were not coined in the republic. Thci
number was very restricted, and they ar
3 rarely to be met with except in the collec
tions Of numismatiSts.
Ii is certainly one Of the eccentricitie
es' which distinguish San Marino from al
Ilet other countries that it puts its litigation
ul- out as some families put out their wash
ing, and trades exclusively with the cur
n0 rency Of foreign states. The countr,
which buys and sells with a currency owe
which IL has no control, and submits il
IS differences to foreign tribunals for adjust
meut, gives pretty heavy bonds to kecl
the peace with its neighbors, whatever b
rs, the title ii gives to its form Of government
'ii The expenses of their government vii
I'M not seem large 10 an American. The,
{ never exceed % 900 francs-say $500
= army, navy, postoiice, education, pris
ons, police, diplomatic service, representa-
ton, all included. The revenue is raise
vs. out of the profits realized by the govern
ment from the purchase Of some 10000
~ = pounds Of tobacco in the leaf, which
A. manufactures to sell at a small advance
sde from the sale Of about 500 sacks of salt
th, and trifing stamp tax Of three cents o
md notarial, judicial and other legal docr
~, ments.
ed, The health Of the republic is locke
,wn aitsr by one physician and one surgeo
,,xti employed BY the state, who arc require
! u to attend aud prescribe for all who sen
nc for them, but who are not expected to II
sent the offer Of gratuity from those VIII
be can afford to pay for their advice. Thes
functionaries receive $500 year eac
from the state. The judges receive II
same San Marino has not only nevs
- been afflicted with a newspaper but d
printing press has ever stood upon its te
. ritory. This is limitation upon its Ct
c. pacity for manufacturing money whic
s. distinguishes 1t more than anything eli
ID. from, renuhiirs of fesscr lonOovifv