Evening star., 1949-07-06
Idiot Joins With Cabinet
In Liechenstein Parade
Incident Shows Democracy At Work
In Last Remnant of Roman Empire
By Thomas r. Henry


By Thomas r. Henry
VADUZ, Lechtenstein (By MaiD D.-This
little city which is the capital Of the last
idyllic remnant Of the Holy Roman Empire
Of the Hapsburgs has. like about every other
community In the world. its local idiot.
He is a harmless fellow whose antics only
add to the general merriment On Corpus
Christi day. which is a national holiday.
minister and his cabinet followed by the
IS members Of parliament. All were in
their frock coats and silk hats.
The idiot got into line with the cabinet
members and walked solemnly along just
behind the prime minister. 1t was the
joke of the day all over the principality-
especially at the castle where old Prince
Alois. whose 80th birthday was being cele-
brated. shook with laughter over the spec
tacle.
Unconcerned on Ideologies.
The incident is quite illustrative of how
democracy works in this little independent
country of neighbors and friends whose N
stitutions are not complicated by size. 1t
has a strictly constitutional government.
Parliament is elected by popular vote.
There are two parties, but apparently two
in name only.
AS it was explained: only q native
Liechtensteiner ever could hope to UNDER
stand the difference between them"
There seldom is any debate, because the
problems Of local government are such that
there seldom can be any difference Of opn-
ion about them Cabinet member and :diot
stand on about the same basis and about
the last thought that would occur to !hs
ruling family would be to put on "ths
dog" before their people.
The country, per Sc, has little concern
with conflicting world ideologies. So far
as known 1t does not contain . single Com
munist or even suspected fellow-traveler.
1t is perhaps the last country In Europe
in any real danger Of going Red-although.
Of course, in dangerous proximity to Austria
concerning which they are quite worried.
Much Of the wealth of the ruling family.
for example. came from vast forest lands
in Czechoslovakia which now Are behind
the Iron Curtain and from which there IL
little prospect that much can b salvaged.
Escapes Two Great Wars.
The little country has entirely escaped
two great wars which have ranged all
around 1t. Its people are quite confident
that they have nothing TO fear from q
third world conflagration, should II come.
The land simply Il not big enough 10 offend
its neighbors and can afford to kssp out Of
tAOuoAo ny StVcAOulB SaNuy 70 ~ own
business. It il fearful Of being talked out
of this highly successful policy.
Few countries anywhere are moro een-
munal in their ways Of life. Lechtenstein
is rather sharply divided into two geosra-
phic areas-fertile meadows along the up
per Rhine which are split up In privately
owned small farms and high forested noun.
tains full of lovely green valleys Although
there is some private ownership in tho
mountain area 1t Is, for the most part.
owned by communities. Each village has
its own forests from which the people
obtain their frewood and building lumber.
Also each village has its own area Of noun
tain pasture into which the cattle are
driven In the summer and left until the
first drifting SHOWS Of autumn
Situated Fortunately.
The country Is fortunately situated. All
around it are large, modern cities 30 that
1t hardly can help keeping up materially
with the modern world. It Is not Just sitting
IN house by the road and watching tho
rest Of the world 80 by. 1t Is almost In the
center of the road. Yet, being in the mod
ern world. it still is out of it. 1t can COM
bine the advantagesvef medieval ways and
those OF 20th century progress.
Unfortunately. Of course, there can be
only one Liechtenstein. Essentially, per-
haps. the happy land Is an accident of
geography. Situated out of the path Of
armies, 1t doesn't need powerful alliances
which might get 1t into trouble For a
century it has been a convenience rather
than stumbling block for all its neghbors
and this has enabled it to preserve a be-.
nevolent neutrality.
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