The Alaska daily empire., 1915-06-29

lhlngs had prevailed in adhcrlug to 1.-the constitution organized iu the
 1inth contory whereby the council
 ors oi the soyerigu council from heads
 of families had been selected for lie. Bu, the democrats wanted share, and inslsted Chat every three years
 these councillors be chosen by 9 vote
 Of Che people They made 1t known
 that they wished to take their place
 in twentieth century progress like
 other upto-date republics.
 So after 100 years the genera. .coun- ell was convoked to debate on the
 new order of things The great bell weighing between l5O00 and l6,O00 pounds in the tower of La Rocca rang at sunset March 24, 1906 to recall to lheads of families that Sunday they lwere to give their vote. Again the E6ell changed on the morning of the lday. and 500 men. gathered before the { great cathedral Two regents repre- senung the government led, with sec retaries of state interior, and ex- terlor heads of families of the parish- es and commissioners of law The vote was written on piece of paper put in a closed wooden box and plac- ed before the urn of San Marine on the main altar of the cathedral at 1 o'clock These ballots were drawn out by little child There was no need of an Australian system of bal loting. and the great bell of the tow CT proclaimed that tho desired swen- tleth century constitutional reform had been accomplished having re- ceived the unanimous vote of tho lit- tie group of electors.
 San Marine has no navy but has a little army of about 1000 men. Be tween the ages of sixteen and fifty five the able.bodied men in every fam lly must be enrolled, unless they be government officers, priests, physt clans or students.
 Detachments of the first corps, or regents. guard, served as an escort of honor to the regents and are station ed at the commulate palace during audiences and sittings of the council. These guards have gaudy blue uni forms with fellow facings. They are not very military in bearing, and as the uniforms are not often replaced, are not very neat.
 The second corps, which guards the fort, is called Guardia dela Rocca, and two companies assist in various duties. such as polIcement in emer- gencies. Captains receive salary of something like 10 cents a day
 The republic has civil and criminal tribunals and a superior court The magistrates are appointed twice each year and extreme care is taken in se- lecting the foreign jurisconsults. The curious custom of electing foreign mayor or provost was early adopted ban San Marino. The public funds are in the hands of a treasury and the government issues its own pos tage stamps, from which it makes con siderable revenue; also its own cop per coinagea which circulates in ItI ally Italian money is also used
 San Marine is represented by diplo- malic agents in several countries. Inl France she has charge daffaires and consul general a consul general at Vienna and a consul at Trieste. An extradition treaty was ratified be- tween the United States and the re- public in 1908.
 Since the early centuries with the exception of the threatened invasion by Austria in 1899, when she shelter ed Garibaldi and his men who had been defeated by the empire San Marine has remained almost wholly unmoiested With shall armed force, she has maintained her SOW ereignty. observing with few excep- tions strict neutrality with the out. side world and receiving the respect and good will of oil.
 After the victories Of Lodi Arcole and Montenotte had given Napoleon possession Of the Italian peninsula. and be was pordoning out of the | country to his family and fayorites. | the tiny republic became alarmed for fear of its freedom But Napoleon gayly remarked: Let us preserve it as the model Of a republic" and from Pesaro sent cordial greetings and as- suranccs of the inviolable friendship of France.
 The model of a republic so pat rcnizingly spoken of by Napoleon, has outlived the Kingdoms established by tue conQueror has seen his beloved France twice become a republic since his reign and was silent witness to his suffering and death at st. Helena.
 San Marino tradition says, was founded by St. Marino a pious monk of the fourth century. native of Oalmatia, who fed during the perse- 'utions of the Christians by Dieclt- ian and later came to where San Ma mo now stands. With the assistance 'f a good and wealthy woman he es- ablished monastery whose popula- ion increased each day and was the beginning of the free people whose lesceneants later created the repub- ic.
 History begins with the ninth cen uy In the tenth century com nuna constitution was established The republic avoided the wars which ent southern Europe but joined he ihibellines, and was interdicted by he Pope in 1247-1249
 Later it came under the protection !, f the papacy and the dukes of UT. !,