Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-05
A TREATY WITH LITTLE San MARlNO

The United States has just concluded =
treaty OF arbitration with the smallest yet
the oldest republic in the
Where IL world. Where and what II
San Marinop San Marine? is question
which may be asked By a
great number Of the readers of The Star.
On the railway that passes down the PENN
sula of Italy from Bologna to Brindisi.
wedged in between the provinces Of Forli.
Urbino and Pesaro. about a dozen miles
from Rimini there is a volcanic rock, Mt.
Titano.. which rises 700 meters, and on and
around which within sixteen square miles
is contained. with its 5000 inhabitants. the
grand little republic OF San Marine.
Addison in his Travels in Italy says:
1.-THE commonwealth OF San Marine may
boast at least of a nobler origin than that
of Rome: the one having been at first an
asylum for robbers and murderers, the 9TH
er OF persons eminent for piety and devo-
tfon."
Marine was the founder of the republic
that bears his name. His life and the mir
acleS he wrought are written In extenso
In the Book Of the Acts Of the Saints.
Marino indeed Is to San Marine what Ro-
mulus was to Rome. The legend runs that
In the second half Of the fourth century Of
the Christian era q stone cutter named Ma
rino coming from Dalmatia ned from pagan
persecution to Rimini. Marine was an In
spired and militant Christian who took part
in debates. and finally by his eloquence and
pious austerity attracted many who came
to listen and were converted. About the
time Of the ascension Of the Emperor Con-
stantine to the throne Of Rome, the bishop
of Brescia heard Of the conversions. sent
for Marine and ordained him priest. Mt.
TitanO belonged at that time to q lady of
Rimini named Feiicissima. Her two sons.
fearing the anger Of the authorities, re-
solved to kill or drive Marine from the
province but in the attempt the extended
arms were stricken powerless. The sons
and the mother FeHcissima were confound-
ed. and, appealing to Marine for aid. they
were cured and mother and sons were con-
verified. Felicfssima therefore gave Mt. IT.
tano to the priest Marine. who at his death
left 1t to his disciples. recommending them
never to abandon It, to organize a civil
society and live always In perfect COM
munion and peace based upon principles of
virtue" Marine was canonized after death
and his fete is celebrated each year on the
Sd Of September.
The government of San Marine resisted
successfully the flow Of invasion from At
tia down to the Borgia. whose troops in
1903 occupied for time the territory which
was abandoned finally. as indeed II was
when in 1913 it was besieged by the troops
of Cardinal Fabiano del Monte. but saved
by the miraculous Interpretation Of a mist
which frustrated the attempt. When Pope
Urban VIII took possession Of the Duchy
d'Urbino in 1881 and Incorporated 1t in
the states of the church he recognized the
independence Of the republic of San Ma,
rino and accorded 1t the favor of free i'm
portations.
A residence at San Marine, free from
the corrupting elements which threatened
to invade Italy. was sought
Frouo OF by distinguished men from
Citizenship. all parts. Many requested
the honor of citizenship In
the free republic and the privilege of adding
to their rank the proud title "Civis Sanctus-
Marinus Sum- am a citizen of San
Marine.
In the eighteenth century the ambitious
and intriguing Cardinal Alberoni submitted
certain claims against the--epublic in the
name Of the holy see Deceived by Alberoni.
the holy see permitted Mt. Tttano to be
besieged and occupied October "a.
the ambassador of France proceeded to
the Vatican and made the following deca-
ration: Holy Father beg to inform You
that the king. my master. will never permit
the subsection of free and Independent
nation, at least. not without his authority.
In case of persistence I shall declare
upon you" Pope Clement XII in order to
make reparatiOn for the OutrageS of AL
beroni, sent Cardinal Enriquez to proclaim
in his name the right Of the republic of
San Marine to govern itself without re-
straint.
When Bonaparte. general-in- chief of the
army of Italy, passed into the Romagnes
(the states of the church) in 1897 he mani
tested his regard for the little republic by
sending the illustrious Monge as ambassa-
dor, accredited by a letter from Gen. Ber-
thier. San Marno, replying to the dis
course by Monge, said:
Return to the hero who has sent you,
take with you to him the free homage not
of our admiration. which we partake with
all the world but of our gratitude: say to
him that the republic of San Marino es-
teeming itself happy In being what it Is fears
to accept the generous offer which Gen.
Bonaparte makes to augment its territory,
which in the end might compromise it's
liberty 80
What wisdom. Oh San Marines. For had
the little republique accepted Bonaparte's
offer of aggrandizement. 1t is probable, nay
certain that the victorious allies in 1915
would have caused the republic to pay very
dearly for its extension of territory in 1877.
Bonaparte addressed the following letter
to the captain regent Of San Marine. dated
Modena February %. 1871:
Citizen Monge has informed me. citizens.
of the interesting picture presented by your
little republic I order that the people of
San Marine shall be exempt from all con-
tributions and respected in all parts of the
French republic in which they may be
found / have ordered Gen. Sahuquet at
Rimini to give you four field pieces, which
present to you In the name of the re-
public He will give you also thousand
OlintauX OF wheat, WHICH VIII pIoNiSioil
your republic until the next crop.-Bona-
parte."
The republic executed treaties about this
time with Rome, Milan and Naples, and
in 1902 established a charge daffaires at
Paris. followed by resident minister. M.
Francesca Apostolic The patriot Onofri
represented the republic at the coronation
of the emperor in 1900 When Napoleon
was consulted by Marescalchi, the Italian
minister on the future relations of the en-
pfre- to the little republic he replied: I'm
good faith we must preserve San Marine as
a model of a republic.
During the pontifcate of Plus TX in 1S4s
after the envoy of French troops to Rome.
General Garibaldi with 1000 soldiers, pur
sued and harassed by the Austrians.
crossed the Apennines and demanded hos
pitality of the San Marines. Twice Do
menico Maria Belzoppi, one of the regents,
replied to the general by a refusal, telling
him of the dangers to which such a favor
would expose the republic. But SO great
was the distress of the Garibaldian soldiers
that they crossed the border without au-
thorzation.
The troops were required to disarm and
other conditions were considered SO haz-
srdpus that Garibaldi and his family es-
capped during the night
In 1851 500 Austri1ns and go gendarmeS
Of the pope invaded the territory of San
Marine. Since when there has been no
event to disturb the tranquility of the
public