The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-19
PINHEAD REPUBLICS.
MOST OF THEM IN EUROPE OR ON
ISLANDS OF THE SEA.


Forms of Governments
When u person speaks of small rcpub-
lies, no is supposed to mean those of
South America and Europe, which arc
marked on evory map and described i'll
every cyolopcdia printed since they have
become republics. Tho fact is, tho world
IS spotted with small republics that arc
never heard of, somo so small that they
seem moro like needle points than pin
heads. A few of them arc known to the
most learned teachers of geography, but
the majority of them would set tho most
OF these teachers n task which would re-
quire moro than single days research.
These lttlo republics arc found on Is
lands 80 diminutive that they arc mark
ed only on navigators' charts and again
between and in tho oontor of Kingdoms.
In area they run from less than a square
milo up to about 100. In population they
run from 90 people up to but littlo moro
than that many hundreds They arc all
republics in that they arc governed by
Che people, but their plans Of government
show great many novelties.
To Tavolara may DO accorded tho dis
tinction of boing the smallest republic
In point Of population on the face Of the
globe. 1t Is situated on an island about
five miles long by fivc-cighths of u milo
In width 3 miles off tho northeast coast
of Sardinia Its population numbers
about 90 people Tho principal occupa-
ton of tho inhabitants is fishing, the
land being titled only enough to supply
tho needs of the Islanders. The posses
sion and absolute sovereignty of tho is
land of Tavolara was formally granted
by King Charles Albert of Sardinia TO
the Bartolconi family In 1880, and for
moro than half q century Paul I. king
Of Tavolara, rcignod over 1t in peace.
On the 30th Of May, 1889, king Paul
died Of heart disease sitting i'll his chair
like the Emperor Vospasian, vainly en-
dcavoring to write will His last words
We're request that mono of his relatives
should succeed him on the throne of the
island and that it's Inhabitants be allow
cd to govern themselves. Mono of the
relatives over filed u claim. nld on
March 81, 1886, the islanders hold n
mass meeting and decided to establish IL
republic The matter was simple one
for them A constitution was drawn up
which gives, by tho way, equal suffrage
to women and also provides for the cleo
ton of president every six years The
president receives no salary and Is adj
vised by council Of six, the members of
which arc elected by the people. There
is no pay and no pcrquisitc4 attached to
any of the offices, Tho independence of
Tavolara was formally recognized by
Italy in 1887, but there Is nothing Oh
the records which shows any other coun-
try having taken notice of it
If we wcro Judging the countries by
their area, then to Goust must be award
cd tho honors But while its area is not
onc-third rs great rs that Of Tavolara
its population is over twice as much the
total number of inhabitants boing about
100. Goust is situated on tho fiat top of
mountain in tho Lower Pyrennes and
occupies an area of but fraction over q
mile Tho republic has existed since
1GiS and Is recognized as an independent
state by both Franco and Spain. The
government is vested in council, con-
sisting of 12 members, who serve seven
years.
This council elects from its number
one who discharges the duties of chief
executive He acts as tax collector, as
SCISSOR, judge, etc, but from all his acts
there is an appeal to the bishop Of La
runs in tho valley below Other than
these thoro aro no officers not even
a Clergyman. Neither Is there come
tory or any public institution whatever.
The pass which leads to tho adjacent
Spanish parish Of Lar1uls Is SO steep that
the carrying Of heavy burdens Is an I'M
possibility. The Inhabitants Of this tiny
mountain republic havo built n chute,
therefore, down which they slide heavy
articles and tho bodies of their dead to
the cemetery far below. Indeed the good
Inhabitants of Goust arc baptized, mar
r1ed and buried in the nearby Ossan
valley. Since tho seventeenth century
the population has varied but little, am-
bition and a desire to SEQ the world call
ing the moro vcnturcsomo from this re-
public in tho clouds. The inhabitants
orc long lived and robust AFRO shepherds
and wcavcrs Of cloth and seem entirely
contontcd with their lot, having little
ambition either for riches or power
Their language is quaint mixture of
French and Catalonian Spanish.
Another republic Of dwarf proportions
is that of Francoville, an island III the
Now Hebrides group, situated east Of
Australia and short distance north Of
Now Caledonia 1t contains an area of
Some So miles, and its population con-
sists Of about 10 whites and 500 natives
Tho island was formerly colony of
France, but its independence was guar
anteed 1t in 1870. Its government con-
sists Of n president and advisory council