The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-03
A PloMY STATE.

Pecsllas Social and Political Conditions
ef the Territory Of Merssnet.
Ninety-nine readers out Of . hundred
have perhaps never even heard the
name of Moresnet; yet it is an indie
pendent State. standing in its own
grounds of rather better than three
square miles, and numbering about two
thousand inhabitants. By the side of
Aoresnet the republic of Andorre is q
great power. and the principality OF
Monaco gigantic empire. The two
thousand inhabitants Of Moresnet live
under the paternal rule of sovereign
who contents himself with the modest
title of burgomaster. He is, however,
rs absolute q monarch in his way as
the Gear. 1t must be admitted that this
territory of Moresnet 10 an anomaly in
the political system; and it Is not
surprising that its immediate neigh
bors, big Germany and little Belgium.
have lately been animated by desire
to cut the miniature State in two and
Ego halves. after pursuing policy of
nOn-;ntervention for seventy-one years.
At the last moment. and when the work
of partition seemed about to begin, q
difference of opinion arose, and now
Moresnet is safe-for the present
This comparatively unknown State is
situated midway between Verviers and
Aix-la- Chapelle, in beautiful valley.
watered by q correspOndingly tiny
river. bearing the terrible name of LA
Gueule" (the Jaw"), and running into
. lake, overshadowcd by an old castle
said to date from the time of Charlie
magne. There are zinc mines in the dis
trict worked by the Societe de Ia Viellc
Montague. In 1915, when the map Of
Europe was rearranged. the frontiers of
Russia and Belgium we're settled. No
difficulty presented itself until the new
map makers came to the zinc mine,
which was claimed by both countries.
Endless pour-pariers cnsued. but moth
ing came of them. Both States had
equal rights; but in those days Prussia
did not solve problems by force. and
Moresnet was allowed to remain neutral,
Independent territory. Since the Water
loo year the material aspect of things
has greatly changed. Only q few
miserable novels formerly surrounded
the mine, but to-day the land is we'll
cultivated and productive. The fifty
mean buildings of 1915 have become
eight hundred, some of which are large
warehouses stored with agricultural
produce. For forms sake, Belgium
and Prussia nominate o commissioner
charged with the settlement of any diff
ficultics which may crop up. The rep
resentativc of Belgium is NJ. Cramer,
honorary president of the Verviers law
court, and he has discharged the light
duties pertaining to his Office of COM
missaire for upward of forty years.
Happy folk of neutral MOresnct! They
have no taxes to pay for the military
protection of their toy country, and
know nothing whatever of elections or
electioneering. There are no "parties, ="
no political struggles, simply because
nobody has vote. The ten council
ors" of Morcsnet are nominated by the
burgomaster; there is no objection to
the men of his choice, and the council
meetings are invariably characterized
by the utmost unanimity. When an
ambitious native wants to be made bur-
gomaster he goes off to interview tho
Prussian and Belgian commissioners,
shows them what he is worth" runs
through the catalogue of his gualifica-
tons, and if the two representatives OF
1.-THE powers" agree, as they usually do.
our friend is appointed burgomaster for
life. and may say, with Alexander Sell
kirk:
lam monarch of ell survey;
Ny right there is none TO dispute.
There have been in all five burgomas-
tiers of Moresnet. The present holder
of the Office is M. Schmetz, who has pre-
sided over the destinics of the little
State for the last two years. The bur-
gomaster is cmphatically ga good Sort
robust, stout, ruddy of cheek, occupy
ing pretty house with o lovely view.
His worship will take pleasure in show
ing you the land-rcg!ster (cadastrdN,
and the council chamber containing the
portraits Of his predecessors; and when
his official day IS over he betakes him.
sef to the little wirthschaft. dignified
by the title of .'casino," in the arbor of
which he drinks his chOpe as he contem-
plates the waters of the lake in front of
him. Here he is generally joined by
his deputy, an old doctor, a, ''chirpy,"
rs the burS0master himself, with any
quantity of stories at his fingers ends.
If only all statesmen resembled NJ.
Schmetz and his worthy adjoint, what a
pleasant game politics.would be to play.
to be sure!
The initiative in every thing rests
with the burgomastcr. who reminds one
Of the sovereigns of the moyen age di-
pensing justice from under . tree. Tho
legal code in operation is that of 1914;
tho innovations, improvements and
notifications introduced into the judi
estures of Prussia, Holland and Bel
GUM since that date are SO much waste
paper for Moresnet. With $4,000 francs
(E4SO) of revenue Moresnet keeps its
highways in repair. supports its schools
and pays its armed force-compo>ed.
let us add, of one individual, who is
both General and soldier. This mill
taire wears a uniform and . Prussian
cap, ornamented with the Moresnet
cockade, and is generally to BE- found
at the Cafe DIES Carbiniers, TO the gar
dens whereof the bourgeois of Aix-la-
Chapelle resort on Sundays to make
merry over the rather insipid white
wine of the country. The expense at
tending religious ILLUSTRATIONS in
Moresnet is borne BY the Societe des
Mimes.-CAieago Times.
When young man has had the honor
of q thrashing from beautiful young
woman he gains o certain distinction as
q masher. which he pays for by being
laughed at. But the lady Is laughed at,