The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-12

dover,
seiect their own rulers thus began in
Asia. then spread through Europe.
| leaped across the Atlantic into tho
Americas and now goes back TO Asia.
over the Pacihc!'
When Jesus was born there was not
nation on Garth which could choose
us own ruler although generation
before England. Southern Europe.
Noftherh Africa and Western Asia had
been under the rule of men elected nv
votes. Some hard -shelled believcrs IN
the divine rights OF kings will tell
you that the Almighty's selection for
inc Messiahs coming, of a period when
therc were no republics on earth was
sign that God smiled upon the mon
archial system. But there arc other
orthodox Christians who will aver that
Jehovah sent the Rcdcemer Mt this
period because He was then most need
ed.
After Rome elected her last pair OF
prcsidents-or "consuls." as they call
ed them-thc civilized world had IN
Jog along without n republic of any
Kind for $50 years, or until Venice re-
ViVed that form of government, al
though at first allowing only her aris-
tocrats to vote for the "dogc."
Oldest Existing Republic.
IL Is remarkable fact that the sec
ond republic founded during the Chris
uan era-one existing as the Oldest
now on earth-is the least known OF
all
Where is Andorra? Ask your friends
and neighbors. and warrant that rot
one IN a hundred can answer. Small
wonder at this. however for there is
but one way to get into Andorra. and
mat is frehn France. via the River
Bolcra, unless you try to enter il from
Spain. in which case you must trust
your life TO mule. which will carry
you down one OF the most dangerous
footpaths in Europe. for this almost
inaccessible haunt of tho miniature
republic lines in the valley of the
eastern Pryenees. between France and
SPAN, and when YOU get there Won
ma that 1t has a ground space of only
us square miles, or smaller than the
floor OF our big cities. It's population
OF only 5000 is. under the joint chap
cronaso of France and Spain. govern
ed by council of twenty-four MEM
bers, elected by the heads Of families
and this council in turn, elects the
President and VicePresidcnt. who are
termed the FIRST and second ''syndic."
But while the people indirectly select
their executive, they let Franco and
Spain take turns about 1T in choosing
their chief judge. while those two
countries share In appointing the un-
der judges, task which Spain intrusts
to one of its Catholic bishops, and
France TO its project of the Pyrcnces
This commonwealth was founded in
100, and because it helped Charlie
imagine against the Moors he continued
its privilege of self government
Equally unknown to the popular
mind is the next republic OF history
to come into being. which still exists
and which enjoys the distinction of be-
Ing the smallest and second Oldest OF
the family. This is San Marine, which
occupies upon the slope of Mount
Titan. on the Adriatic. an imprcgnabIc
fastness only thirty-threc square miles
in extent, or less than quarter of the
area of Andorra. Since 1t was founucu
in $50, or nearly century before the
Andorians set up their tiny common
wealth. san Marino has maintained
against many attacks its independence,
which was respected by both Napoleon
and Garibaldi. Its HOOP citizens elect
sixth" or great council" composed
of twenty mobiles twenty townsmen and
twenty peasants, of whom two ara
elected as presidents or regents" for
terms of six months, after which they
arc ineligible again for Office for three
years SO YOU sec that the smallest
republic in area on earth requires two
executives to rule-it>, ,~, government
is practically the same as II was a mil
lcnnium ago.
Many Before onrs.
Following this midget i'll the family
Of republics camo Amalh. lasting from
900 to 1885; then Iceland, 92S.l261;
Genoa. 1o00-1s0e; the Lombard Com
munes. 1lSa-16S0; tho Free Cittes OF
, Germany, 12i1163o; Switzerland, 1891
and still existing: United Netherlands,
l6o9-1S05; Hamburg. Lubbock and Bre-
men. 1880 and still existing, though
members of tho German confederation
frankfort, l6So-iSio; the English
United states of America. so much for
liata of names and dates, hut this brief