Arizona silver belt., 1894-06-09
PINHEAD REPUBLICS.
MOST OF THEM IN EUROPE OR ON
 ISLANDS OF THE SEA.


 The Smallest In Area Is Little More Than
 Square Mile, and the Smallest In Popu-
 lation Numbers Tirty-fye souIs-slmpIo
 Forms of Government.
 When person speaks of small repub. lies, he is supposed to mean those of touth 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 task which would re- quire more than single day S research. These little republics are found on isa lands so diminutive that they are mark. ed only on navigators' charts and again between and in the center of kingdoms. In area they run from less than square mile up to about 100. mpopulation they run from 55 people up to but little more than that many hundreds. They arc all republics in that they are governed by the people, but their plans of government show great many novelties,
 To Tayolara may be accorded the dis tinction of being the smallest republic in point of population on the face of the globe. It is situated on an island about five miles long by fiye-eighths of mile in width l3 miles off the northeast coast of Sardinia Its population numbers about 55 people The principal occupa- tion of the inhabitants is fishing the land being titled only enough to supply the needs of the islanders. The posses 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 l, king of Tavolara, reigned over it ill peace.
 On the 30th 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 a request that none of his relatives should succeed him on the throne of the island nnd that its inhabitants be allow. ed to govern themselves, None of the relatives ever filed claim, and on March 27, 1886, the islanders held mass meeting and decided to establish republic The matter was a simple one for them. A constitution was drawn up, which gives, by the way, equal suffrage to women and also provides for the cleo tion of president every six years. The president receives no salary and is ad- yised 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 conn., try having taken notice of it
 If we were judging the countries by their area, then to Goust must be award ed the honors. But while it's 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 l30. 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 l648 and is recognized as an independent state by both France and Spain. The government is vested in council, con sisting of 12 members, who serve seven years
 This council elects from it's number one who discharges the duties of chief 1 executive. He acts as tax collector, as- sessor, 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 arc no officers, not even 8 clergyman. Neither is there a ceme- tery or any public institution whatever. The pass which leads to the adjacent Spanish parish of LaIuns is so steep that | the carrying of heavy burdens is an i'm | possibility. The inhabitants of this tiny mountain republic have built 6 chute, therefore, down which they slide heavy | articles and the bodies of their dead tc 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, ann 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 of Australia and short distance north of New Caledonia. It contains an area of some 85 miles, and it's population con sists of about 40 whites and 800 natives. The island was formerly q colony of France, but it's independence was guar. anteed it i'll 1879. Its government con sists of president and advisory council of eight, chosen by the people. The president, who is at present MT R. D. Polk, native of this country, is ap- pointed a judge, from whose decisions there is no appeal Equal suffrage is ex- tended to all White or black, male or female, may vote, but only the white male may hold office The island repub' lie is in a prosperous condition and car ries on a good trade with France. St.