The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-02-28
.tDIMIN L IJ d VE RI PIJBLICs.


DIMINIJTIVE REPUBLICS.
Andorra and San Marine, and
Their Governments.
Interesting Facts Concerning These Two
Tiny Countries, Whose POpula-
lions Number but q Few
Thousands.
How many men, ten years out OF
school. can give the geographical POI
sition of Andorra or of San Marine?
says the New York Star. A word as to
these tiny Republics.
Andorra 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 one
hundred and sixty square miles, not
very much more than that of Philadel-
phia. It's population is seven thousand.
The people are mostly busted in
smuggling, mining and the manufact-
ure of tobacco. Those thus not en-
ployed are shepherds. The country has
free parish schools The people speak
a Spanish dialect The Republic is a
survival of many such once aourishing
in the valleys Of the Pyrenees. It has
maintained it's Independence since the
year 1875. The country is divided into
six parishes, and each parish has two
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councils, decide all questions concern
ing roads, police, public lighting, taxa
ton, and the division of pasture
lands. Finally, there is {; general coun-
Gil of twentyfou1 mem bers, four from
each parish. Since 1860 these officers
have been elected by all heads of fam
lies Before that the elective fran
chise was confined to an aristocraey
maintained by primogeniture.
The army of Andorra consists of six
hundred men under militia organiza~
ton These men hold themselves
ready to be called out at the wish OF the
State. The command 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 for
eign service, and the chief bust
ness of the two officers, or vigniers,
as they are called, is to administer Grim
inal Justice Civil cases are tried be-
fore two aldermen, deputies of the
vigniers A civil judge of appeals, how
ever, 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 CASA ton at Paris or to the Episco-
pal College at Urgel.
The little Republic pays an annual
tribute Of nine hundred and sixty
francs to France, and in consideration
of this payment free trade prevails be-
tween the two countries. A like sum
is paid as tribute to the bishop of
Urgel. This tribute and the expenses
of government are paid by a species Of
tax levied as rent for 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 exist
ence Of a civilized community. Andor~
IA, the capital, is an odd little town of
one thousand inhabitants.
Far smaller than Andorra is that
other mountain Republic, San Marino
It lies upon the Adriatic, surrounded
by italian provinces. The area of the
country is only thirty three square
miles, and, in fact, the Republic is
merely one mountain peak, twenty-five
hundred feet high. On the sides of this
mountain stand the town of San
Marine and four or five villages besides.
The town is built about the ancient
hermitage of San Marino, founded in
the year AL. The place is accessible
by only one road, and is not only
walled, but has three forts. It contains
the Governors palace, six churches,
theater and two great cisterns
for the supply of water. Nothing
could be more curious than the Re-
public's system Of government. The
Legislature consists of a Senate of sixty
members, elected for life, equally from
mobiles, citizens and peasants. The lit
tie Republic is amply provided with
Presidents. There are two chosen every
six months. There are likewise two
Judges and two Secretaries Of State.
The army consists of nine hundred and
fifty men, or about one-eighth of the
entire population. The town has pop
ulation of sixteen hundred. 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 it
lie inpregnable on the hillsides, but it
proudly proclaims it's independence by
means of statue Of Liberty in the
piazza. The houses are Of dressed stone,
and the streets, bobbing up and down
as they do, are charmingly picturesque
San Marine has no customs tariff
against Italy, and obtains foreign tobac-
co duty free, through Italian territory,
by reason Of promise to abstain from
tobacco-raising. To avoid any difficulty
over the troublesome question of inter-
national copyright, San Marino forbids
the use of the printing press within her
borders.
According to tradition, San Marine
was founded in the third century by
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