The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-02-25
rWO MINIATURE REPUBLICS
ANDoRRA AND SAN MARINo, AND
HOW THEY ARE RULED.

Onc, Wltn Inffty-llirCC oQudEC hhhCSi
Enjoys the Luxury of Two Presi-
dents-Their Governments.
Until France adopted her present form
If government, modern European re-
publics were all tiny bits of territory
hat seemed hardly worth a monarch's
conquest. In all cases, too, they have
been mountainous lands. Indeed, in
several instances, they have been little
more than mountain or q range of
mountains. Swltzerland's centuries Of
republican freedom are known to all the
world, and this little country is the
largest of the mountain republics in
which Liberty has long made her home.
Two others there are of which the world
knows little, and perhaps cares less. How
many men, ten years out of school, can
give the geographical position of
Andorra or of San Marinol A word as
to these tiny republics.
1t was German princeling that is
said to have declined a gift of long
range rife cannon, upon the ground that
there was not room in his principality to
give the weapon fair trial. Small terri
torres and scant revenues have made even
some of the more conspicuous German
princely houses famous for simplicity
and economy. But it must be small
principality, indeed, that is smaller in
area or population than the Republic of
Andorra.
This tiny State lies on the south side
of the Pyrenees, between the Spanish
Province of Lerida and the French De-
partment of Ariege. Its area is 100
square miles, not very much more than
than that of Philadelphia. Its popula-
ton is 1000. The people are mostly
busted in smuggling, mining, and the
manufacture of tobacco. Those nst thus
employed are shepherds. The country
has free parish schools. The people
speak Spanish dialect. The Republic
is survival of many such once fourishing
in the valleys of the Pyrenees. 1t has
maintained its independence since the
year 1875. The country is divided into
six parishes and each parish has two con-
suls, who, by the aid of local councils,
decide all questions concerning roads,
police, public lighting, taxation and the
division of pasture lands. Finally, there
is a general council of twenty-four mem
bers, four from each parish. Since 1866
these officers have been elected by all
heads of families. Before that the elec-
tive franchise was confined to an aristo-
cracy maintained by primogeniture.
The army of Andorra consists of 600
men, under militia organization. These
men hold themselves ready to be called
out at the wish of the State. The COM
mand Of the militia is intrusted chiefly
to two officers, one nominated by France
and the other by the Bishop of Urgel, a
Spanish See. The army is exempt from
foreign service, and the chief business of
the two officers, or Vigniers, as they are
called, is to administer criminal justice.
Civil cases are tried between two Alder.
men, deputies of the Vignier. A Civil
Judge of Appeal, however, may set aside
the judgments of the Aldermen. This
Judge is nominated alternately by France
and by the Bishop of Urgel. The final
appeal is to the Court of Cessation at
Paris, or to the Episcopal College at
Urgel.
The little Republic pays an annual
tribune of S194 to France, and in con-
sideration of this payment flee trade
prevails between the two countries. A
like sum is paid as a tributi to the
Bishop of Urgel. This tribute and the
expenses of government are pid by a
species of tax levied as rent TO the use
of pasture land. The people live the
simplest sort of lives, and are scarcely
conscious of any government beyond the
neighborlY understanding necessary to
the existence of civilized com nunity.
Andorra, the capital, is an ODD little
town of 1000 inhabitants.
Far smaller than Andorra is thai other
mountain republic, San Marino. It lies
upon the Adriatic, surrounded by Italian
provinces. The area of the country is
only thirty three miles square, and, in
fact, the republic is merely one mountain
peak, 2200 feet high. On the sides of
this mountain stand the town of San Ma
rino, founded in the year AL. The place
is accessible by only one road, and is not
only walled, but has three forts. 1t con-
taius the Governors palace, six churches,
a theatre, and two great cisterns for the
supply OF water. Nothing could be more
curious than the Republics system OF
government. The Legislature consists OF
sixty members, elected for life, equally
from mobiles, citizens and peasants. The
little Republic is amply provided with
Presidents. There are two chosen every
six months. There are likewise two
Judges and tive Secretaries of State. The
army consists of $50 men, or about one
eighth of the entire population. The
town has population of 1000. The
court of last resort is a council of twelve
elected by the Senate.
The town, or capital, is curious in
more ways than one. Not only does il
lie impregnable on the hillside, but il
I proudly proclaims its independence by
means of statue of Liberty in the piaz-
"a. The houses are of dressed stone,
and the streets, bobbing up aud down,
as they do, are charmingly picturesque
San Marino has no customs tariff against
Italy, and obtains foreign tobacco duty
free, through Italian territory, by reason
of a promise to abstain from raising to-
bacco. TO avoid any difficulty over the
troublesome question of international
copyright, San Marino forbids the use Of
the printing press within her borders.
According to tradi6on, San Marine
was founded in the third century by {