The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-02-19
4 Pigmy Republic.

second to Monaco among the small in
dependent States of the world. and it
Jery rarely enjoys the luxury Of popu:
lar revolution. 1t has several political
factions, however, and the more nd.
vanced Of these thought that gaming
table would be q sure source OF wealth
to the republic. The conservatives held
that its character vas more important
than its wealth, and bitter fight en-
sued. It 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. Accordingt to this charta they
were entitled to an autonomous govern.
ment, and though after the death of bis
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
"Carlovinsian tax" Since that time
the republic of Andorra has scarcely UNI
dergone . single change, and the only
attempt to intervene in it's internal at.
fairs was when Henri w., then Count
de Folk, forbade the establishment OF
the Inquisition there. II clericalism was
10 favor among the Andorrans 3OOyears
ago, the ideas Of their descendants have
undergone . complete change, for in
1912 3 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
3 rotation every year. All public func'
!. tons are gratuitous, and no man can
\ hold an official post unless he Is native
r Of Andorra. The Syndic or Procurator'
:, General is appointed for life ythe Coun'
= Gil, and the two Viguiers, whose nomi
. nation is subject to the sanction o
j. France and Spain, are coequal with tn
}. Syndic in all that relates to the admin
70 istration OF justice. The Viguiers hav'
|e command of the armed force, which con
If sists of all the able. bodied men in tn!
=, s.valleys and sovereignties of Andorra,
d - the little republic styles itself in 81
rs State documents. Andorra, however,
Or to great extent subject to Spain, TO
,e the Spanish gendarmes often pursu
ID criminals within its limits, the real In
BIT dependence of the inhabitants consistin
n. in their freedom from taxation, the mil
I tsry CONSUMPTION, and customs due
,ir There are few more curious spectacle
70 than that which is to be witnessed
ed Andorra when its Council meets. II
1t. twenty.four Councillors wear kne
Ill breeches of gray cloth, with . waistban
he and waistcoat Of red wool, . black si
he crayat, wooden stockings of a light bl'
,e- shade, and shoes with silver buckles,
ng long mantle, (balaadran) of black clot
lined with crimson, and red cooke
lck hat. The Viguiers are arrayed in bla'
Ike velvet, and they alone, a. dispensers
Justice and commanders Of the force
ras are entitled to wear sword. Andor
but itself, with its narrow and tortuo
rm streets and its ill.built houses, is nothil
ssy better than . dilspidated village, but
my contains . handsome church, and t
got building in which the Councillors me-
&c. with the arms of Andora and the
wi scription "Domus concilii, sedes j
titie," Is remarkable as being one
till the oldest pieces of architecture in !
ght rope.