The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-02-19
A PigmY Republic.

THE Republic of Andorra ranks only
second to Monaco among the small in
dependent States of the world, and it
very rarely enjoys the luxury of popu-
lar revolution. 1t has several political
factions, however, and the more adj
vanced of these thought that gaming
table would be sure source of wealth
to the republic. The conservatives held
/ that its character was more important
than its wealth, and bitter fight en-
sued. 1t seems that the independence
of Andorra dates from the time of Louis
the Mild, son of Charlemagne, who, to
reward its inhabitants for helping him
to capture Urgel, granted them Magma
Charta, which is still preserved in their
archives. According to this charta they
were entitled to an autonomous govern
ment, and though after the death of his
father and accession to the throne he
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 I'M
dergone single change, and the only
attempt to intervene in its internal af-
fairs was when Henri w., then Count
de Folk, forbade the establishment of
the Inquisition there. If clericalism was
in favor among the Andorrans 800 years
ago, the ideas of their descendants have
undergone complete change, for in
1912 popular revolution led to the
abolition of the 1.-THE and of all taxes for
ecclesiastical purposes. The republic
is covered by General Council, COM
posed of twenty-four Councillors, or
Consuls, twelve of whom retire by
rotation every year. All public func-
tions are gratuitous, and no man can
hold an official post unless he is native
of Andorra. The Syndic or Procurator-
General is appointed for life by the Coun-
Gil, and the two Viguiers, whose nomi-
nation is subject to the sanction of
France and Spain, are coequal with the
Syndic in all that relates to the admin
istration of justice. The Viguiers have
command of the armed force, which con-
sists of all the able bodied men in the
"valleys and sovereignties of Andorra,"
as the little republic styles itselfif all
State documents. Andorra, however, is
to great extent subject to Spain, for
the Spanish gendarmes often pursue
criminals within its limits, the real in
dependence of the inhabitants consisting
in their freedom from taxation, the mill
tary CONSUMPTION, and customs dues.
There are few more curious spectacles
than that which is to be witnessed at
Andorra when its Council meets. The
twenty-four Councillors wear knee
breaches of gray cloth, with waistband
and waistcoat of red wool, black silk
cravat, wooden stockings of light blue
shade, and shoes with silver buckles,
long mantle, Cbalandran) of black cloth,
lined with crimson, and 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 nothing
better than dilapidated village, but it
contains handsome church, and the
building in which the Councillors meet,
with the arms of Andorra and the in
scription "Domus concilii, sedes JUS
titi@," is remarkable as being one of
the Oldest pieces of architecture in Eu-
rope.