The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-02-03
A Pigmy Republic.

Ine RcpuDliC OF AnQOrra TANKS only
second TO Monaco among the small indie
pendent States of the world, and it very
rarely enjoys the luxury of popular
revolution. 1t has several political fac
tions, however, and the more advanced
of these thought that gaming table
would be q sure source of wealth to the
Republic. The conservatives held that
its character was more important than
its wealth, and bitter fight ensued. 1t
seems that the independence of Andorra
dates from the time Louis the Mild, son
of Charlemagne, who, to reward its in
habitants for helping him to capture
Urgel, granted them Q Magma Charta,
which is still preserved in their archives.
According to this charta they were
entitled to an autonomous government,
and though after the death of his father
and accession to the throne lie made over
part of his suzerain rights to the bishop
of Urgel, he retained one-half Of the
tithes, which, up to very recent date,
were still known as the "Carlovingian
tax" Since that time the republic Of
Andorra has scarcely undergone single
change, and the only attempt to inter
vene in its internal affairs was when
Henry w., then Count de Folk, forbade
the establishment of the Inquisition
there. IF clericalism was in favor among
the Andorrans 300 years ago, the ideas of
their defendants have undergone COM
plete change, fpr in 1912 popular revo.
luton led to the abolition of the tithe
and of all taxes far ecclesiastical purpo-
ses. The republic is governed by gen.
eral council, composed of twenty.four
councillors or consuls, twelve of whom
retire by rotation every year. All pub
lie functions are gratuitous, and no one
man can hold an official post unless he is
native of Andorra. The Syndic or
Procurator General is appointed for life by
the council, and the two yiguiers, whose
nomination is subject to the sanction of
France and Spain, are coequal with the
syndic in all that relates to the admins.
tration ofjustice. The viguers have COM
mand of the armed force, which consists
of all the able.bodied men in the "yal-
leys and sovereignties of Andorra," as
the little Republic styles itself in all
State documents. Andorra, however, is
to q great extent subject to Spain,
for the Spanish gendarmes often
pursue criminals within its limits,
the real independence of the inhabitants
consisting in their freedom from taxa
ton, the military conscriplion, and Gus
toms dues.
There are few more curious specta-
cles than that which is to be witnessed
ut Andorra when its council meets. The
lwenty.four Councillors wear knee
breeches ofgray cloth, with waissband
and waistcoat of red wool, a black silk
cravat, woolen stockings Of a light blue
shade, and shoes with silver buckles, a
long mantle (balandron) of black cloth,
lined with crimson, and a red cooked
hat. The viguiers are arrayed in black
velvet, and they alone, as dispensers Of
Justice and commanders of the forces,
are entitled to wear sword. Andorra
itself, with its narrow and tortuous
streets, and its ill-built houses, is moth
ing better than o dilapidated village,
but it contains handsome church, and
the building in which the Councillors
meet, with the arms Of Andorra and the
Inscription "Domus concilli, sedes
iustia, /" is remarkable as being Of the
oldest places Of architecture in Europe.