A SMALL REPUBLIC.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 4, 24 January 1901, Page 15

A SMALL REPUBLIC.

Thirb is a very interesting story in the Catholic World Magazine for July concerning San Marino, the Catholic Republic in the heart of Italy. In these days of the centralisation of power it is quite remarkable that this republic should maintain not only its independence but that spirit of hardy love for liberty that characterised the people when its foundations were laid. It was born of Catholicism and has been nurtured by that same spirit, and to-day it is bo vigorous that it bids fair to outlive many larger principalities. Father Heffernan says of it : ' There are few States in the world that are actually out of debt. San Marino, in Europe, enjoys this privilege, with the republic of Andorra and the principality of Monaco. Each inhabitant pays about 25 francs of a tax. The budget of San Marino reads very favorably, the receipts amounting to 112,500 francs and the expenses to 109,600 franos. The balance is on the right side. The landowner has no reason to complain of being crushed, like his Italian brethren, by heavy taxation ; he pays little or nothing, for the land tax is very light. The principal indirect taxes are those which are levied on powder, salt, and tobacco. In 1872 the republic renounced in a treaty made with Italy the right of cultivating tobacco. The Italian Government agreed to furnish the State at net cost the necessary quantities of tobacco for consumption. One exception was made in favor of the Capuchins of San Marino. The are permitted to plant tobacco and sell snuff to retailers.'