36 
Land & Water 
August 8, 191 8 
{Continved from page 34). 
has been free and independent ever since, having only once 
been occupied, and then by the Papal troops under Cardinal 
Alberoui in the early part of the eighteenth century. That 
occupation was but for a few days only, as an appeal to 
Clement XII., setting forth its histor\', obtained an imme- 
diate order emphasising the right of the citizens to choose 
their own government, and the Papal troops were withdrawn. 
Napoleon tried to suppress the republic, but its valiant 
statesman, Antonio Onofri, maintained so complete a neu- 
trality that his republic vindicated its right to separate 
treatment, and Napoleon, with the gift of a gun [which has 
never yet been fired] rescinded his decree. 
San Marino is ruled by two Captains-General — one from 
patrician an(;i one from plebeian ranks — and by a council 
of sixty heads of families, who must be laymen, and who 
sit for life. The Regents or -Captains hold office for six 
months — not longer — and cannot • be re-elected for three 
years after their term of office has expired. 
While Regents, they are reheved from every other charge, 
have full personal immimity, and take precedence of all. 
From the Council of 60 is elected a Coimcil of 12, a con- 
sultative and judicial body ; but the 60 is, in fact, the 
sovereign prince, head of the State, and interpreter of its 
laws, the Regents being the physical embodiment of the 
Prince, for whom they act and sign. In this way the republic 
is unique in its government, and the Prince— that is, the 
Council — perpetual. Every six months the heads of all 
families re-assert their rights, meeting and presenting to 
the new Regents their demands or remonstrances. Further- 
more, in the 60 no near relations must be included, every 
class being fairly represented and every hearth furnishing 
its contribution to the governing power. The code of its 
laws has been published — a copy is before us. It is based 
on Roman law, is extremely simple and dignified, while its 
agricultural regulations, forming a real manual of agricul- 
ture, are taken from the Georgics of Virgil and the writings 
of Alamanni. Its judge must be a stranger, and is elected 
for three years, and the appeal from his decision has been 
for generations to an English judge in high position ; but 
it is very long since any appeal was made by this law- 
abiding and obedient people. 
As to economics, its revenue exceeds its expenses, and in 
consequence its roads and canals are perfect, and its house 
property in excellent order. 
From the summit of the mountain on which San Marino is 
placed (2,735 feet) one looks down on the surrounding 
country and on the Adriatic, gazing upon a highly cultivated 
and prosperous country. 
As one drives to it from Rimini, one is struck by 
a special feature. San Marino contains no beggars : it 
allows no begging. From the moment the' carriage crosses 
the boundary line all begging ceases, and every family 
appears to be prosperous, happy, and contented. 
These are the people that of their own free will have 
joined us in arms. 
They could have remained neutral, there w^s no power 
to compel their alliance ; they stand alone on their mountain 
solitudes, and have their own interests to consider. They 
are somewhat unsympathetic towards their Italian 
neighbours, whose language they speak and with whom 
they inter-marry, and they jiave their own treaties, including 
one of extradition, and their independence is fully accepted 
all over the world. 
Nevertheless, the cry of freedom roused the Sammarinesi 
with instant effect, and the towns of Sferravalle, Borgo, 
San Marino, ?ind St. Leo have quicklj' lost most of the meri 
of fighting age; the women are now pruning the 
vines and olives- and gathering in the crops, while the men 
are bravely fighting side by side with the Italian forces. 
Their country is so beautiful and so interesting that to them 
it must have been a harder wrench than usual to leave it 
and fight ; but German victory would have meant loss of 
all that San Marino holds dear, and hence their noble decision. 
It was in San Marino that Cagliostro died in 1794. It 
was there that Cav Borghesi, one of the greatest classical 
scholars of modern Italy, resided. It was there that 
Melchiore Delfico wrote his History ; but far greater than 
all these names are the traditions of its ancient freedom 
and the memories of its generous hospitality. It may be 
the smallest State since the days of Greece, it may be so 
unimportant in size and population as to be in danger of 
being forgotten ; but it has held aloft the torch of liberty 
for fourteen hundred years, and amongst its people the 
flame burns as brightly and as vigorously as ever it 
has done through this long and eventful period. 
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