The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-06-14
PINHEAD REPUBLICS.
MOST OF THEM IN EUROPE OR ON
ISLANDS OF THE SEA.

Square Mile, and the Smallest In Popu-
lation Numbers Fifty-hve Souls-Stnple-
Forms of Government.
When person speaks of small repub-
lies, he is supposed to mean those Of
South America and Europe, which are
! marked on every map and described in
every cyclopedia printed since they have
become republics, The fact is, the world
is spotted with small republics that are
never heard of, some so small that they
seem more like needle points than pin
heads A few Of them are known to the
most learned teachers of geography, but
the majority Of them would set the most
of these teachers a task which would re-
quire more than u single days research.
These little republics are found on is
lands so diminutive that they are mark
ed only ON navigators' charts and again
between and i'll the center Of kingdoms.
In area they run from less than a square
mile up to about 100. In population they
run from 80 people up to but little more
than that many hundreds They are all
republics in that they are governed by
the people, but their plans of government
show great many novelties
To Tavolara may be accorded the dis
tinction OF being the smallest republic
i'll point of population ON the face of the
globe. 1t is situated ON an island about
five miles long by five-eighths of mile
in width 10 miles off the northeast coast
of Sardinia Its population numbers
about 90 people The principal occupa-
ton of the inhabitants is fishing, the
land being titled only enough to supply
the needs Of the islanders The possess
sion and absolute sovereignty of the is
land of Tavolara was formally granted
by King Charles Albert Of Sardinia to
the Bartoleoni family in 1886, and for
more than half century Paul I, king
of Tavolara, reigned over it in peace.
On the Both of May 1882, King Paul
died of heart disease, sitting in his chair,
like the Emperor Vespasian, vainly en-
deavoring to write will. His last words
were request that none of his relatives
should succeed him ON the throne Of the
island and that its inhabitants be allow
ed to govern themselves. None of the
relatives ever filed claim, and on
March 81, 1886, the islanders held
mass meeting and decided to establish
republic. The matter was simple one
for them. A constitution was drawn up,
which gives, by the 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 are elected by the people, There
is no pay and no perquisites attached to
any of the Offices The independence of
Tavolara was formally recognized by
Italy in 1887, but there is nothing ON
the records which shows any other coun-
try having taken notice of it.
If we were Judging the countries by
their area, then to Goust must be award
cd the honors. But while its area is not
one-third as great as that Of Tavolara
its population is over twice as much, the
total number Of inhabitants being about
1870. Goust is situated ON the flat top of
a mountain in the Lower Pyrennes and
occupies an area of but fraction over
mile. The republic has existed since
1913 and is recognized as an independent
state by both France and Spain. The
government is vested in council, con-
sisting Of 10 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 the valley below Other than
these there are no officers, not even
9 clergyman. Neither is there ceme-
terry or any public institution whatever
The pass which leads to the adjacent
Spanish parish Of Laruns is so steep that
the carrying of heavy burdens is an i'm
possibility The inhabitants of this tiny
mountain republic have built a chute,
therefore, down which they slide heavy
articles and the bodies of their dead to
the cemetery far below. Indeed the good
inhabitants Of Goust are baptized, mar
ried and buried in the nearby Ossan
valley. Since the seventeenth century
the population has varied but little, am
bition and desire to see the world call
ing the more venturesome from this re-
public in the clouds. The inhabitants
are long lived and robust, are shepherds
and weavers Of cloth and seem entirely
contented 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 Franceville, an island in the
New Hebrides group, situated east Ok
Australia and a short distance north of
New Caledonia 1t contains an area of
some SO miles, and its population con-
sists Of about 40 whites and 500 natives.
The island was formerly colony of
France, but its independence was guar
anteed it in 1879. Its government con-
sists Of president and advisory council
of eight, chosen by the people. The
president, who is at present Mr. R.
ID. Polk, a native of this country, is APP
pointed a judge, from whose decisions
there is no appeal. Equal suffrage is ex