The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-09
A MINIATURE REPUBLIC.
san Marine Is Small But Thoroughly
independent.
From the Scientific American.

independent
From the Scientific American.
Few visitors to Italy ever make the ex-
cursion from Rimini 10 San Marine, the
smallest independent republic in Europe,
although it is one of the most curious
places in Italy, if not in Europe, for it
has maintained Itself as a republic ever
since the earliest times of Christianity.
San Marine, which has an area of 80
square miles, lies Between the provinces of
Forli and ato-Urbino and is thus en-
tireiy surrounded by Italian domains. II
is situated on part of the eastern spurs
of the Apennlnes. Monte Titano, the CEN
trail and eliminating summit, has three
peaks, each surmounted by
castle. The coat of arms of
the republic is three feathers, which
seem TO have been suggested by these
rocky SUBMITS with their fortresses. The
city of San Marine has 1900 inhabitants
out of the 5000 of the republic 1t is one
of the most picturesque PAGES in the
world, being perched on perpendicular
cliffs; and when we look at them we can
then understand that the extraordinary
mountains and rocks introduced into the
backgrounds of the paintings of Perugino,
Raphael, and other Umbrian painters were
not nightmares but were really taken
from nature. Borgo di San Marine, at the
foot of the cliffs, is the commercial center
of the republic, and here We first find the
money coined by it. A steep path leads
up to the picturesque Citta, to which we
have already referred. From the castle
there is a magnificent view of the Adriatic
and even on clear day the coast of Dali
malta may be seen. 1t is said that when
the mail arrives at Borgo a ben is sound
ed, and those who live on the cliffs have
to descend to get their mail if they wish
1t; for, owing to the primitive state of af-
fairs the postman never ascends the rock.
IL may well be asked how it is that such
an anomaly as the microscopic republic is
allowed to exist in the heart of a mon
archy. The history of San Marine is an
interest ting one. The first authentic docu-
ment dates from SS5. The inhabitants pur-
chased territory from neighboring Princes
and the common wealth assisted Pope Plus
II. (Aeneas Sylvius) against the Mala-
testas of Rimini, and as a reward receiv-
ed three little castles. on the annexation
of UTbino to the states of the Church in
1851, the independence of San Marine was
acknowl edged. In 1907 Napoleon decided to
preserve the small republic and in 1854
Napoleon III. saved il from the designs of
Plus TX. When Italy became fed, San
Marine obtained excellent terms. 1t is gov.
erned by a great council of sixty men,
bers-twenty mobiles, twenty burgesses,
twenty rural landowners, named for life
by the council itself. From this body is
elected the council of twelve which with
a legal adviser, decideds an questions Two
captains regent, elected every six months.
represent the state, which has also its
home secretary, its minister of foreign af-
fairs, its chancellor of the exchequer, ats
army of $50 men, and a regular budget.
BY treaty with Italy, San Marino receives
a certain proportion of the Italian customs
revenue, but exacts no customs on her Dor
ders. She also agrees not to grow tobacco,
but is allowed to import tobacco duty free.
In order to avoid copyright difficulties,
there is no printing press in San Marine.
Ii is a curious fact that the commissary or
judge, and the physician must both be
strangers, and they are paid out of the
public purse Such are a few of the curious
facts connected with the smallest indie
pendent republic in Europe, or the world,
for that matter.