Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-09-25
SEVEN REPUBLICS.
Commonwealth Main
tain Their independence.
THE CIVIL OFFICERS AND ARMIES
Histories of Oceanic and
European Examples OF Government
by the People.

The permanence of republican insti-
buttons in Hawaii has been doubted by
many prophets, who limited that the
new commonwealth would experience
difficulty in maintaining its indepena-
ence. Did these predicters ever con-
slider how many other republics, much
smaller in size and in population, sew
eral of them, too. without the advan-
tage of insular position, had stood the
test Of time and preserved their auto
nomy in spite of the jealousies of their
powerful neighbors?
The following account of the little
republics of the world will show that
the promoters of the Hawaiian com.
monwealth had plenty of precedent to
encourage their faith in the future
There is Pitcairn Island; itself, like
Hawaii, situated in the Pacific Ocean,
immeasurably inferior to President
Dole's district in area, population and
every other important respect, which
has long remained in the peculiar posi-
ton Of being independent and free
from interference without ever having
had its national existence formally re-
cognized. It's first settlers, from whom
the present inhabitants are exclusively
descended, were the mutinous crew Of
an English man-of-war. H. M. s.
Bounty. famous in story.
Lying in the Southern seas, in the
region of the Australasion continent,
is the island of Franceville. One of
the New Hebrides, it is not far from
New Caledonia. In area eighty five
odd miles, it is mainly occupied by
about 500 natives. the white inhabi.
tants being less than h alf hundred.
France, which originally had control
Of this place. gave it, in 1879, char.
ter Of independence, promising that no
other power should be permitted to in
terfere with it. The people elect a
President, who governs with the aid of
an advisory council of eight members.
The President. in addition to his ad-
ministrative functions, exercises judi
oial powers, and there is no appeal
from his decisions. Although no
Office can be held by colored citizens,
universal suffrage prevails. without
distinction of sex or color. The chief
trade of the island is with France,
and is sufficiently good to afford
living for all, pauperism being un-
known. just now the President is an
American, Mr.. R. D. Polk
To Europe, however, we must look
for the smallest of all self-governing
peoples. Some dozen miles from the
Sandman coast to the northeast, the
long, narrow, island of Tavolara rises
from the sea. Five miles long, and
about half mile wide. its soil is Gull
tivated by the natives only to limited
extent. fishing being the staple indus
try. Tavolara's census shows a pop
ulation of but fifty or sixty souls, a
miniature republic, indeed. Nearly
sixty years ago the then King of Sar-
DINA, Charles Albert, gave the island
to the Bartoleoni family. who, in the
person of King Paul l., reigned su-
rreme as a royal house until 1889.
This ruler died under peculiar circum-
stances A sufferer from heart disease,
he sat down to write his will, and was
found dead in his armchair a few
hours later. The will itself was a
unique document. for King Paul, in
stead of devising legacies, had simply
that the island kingdom be
surrendered by the Bartoleoni family
to the people, who were to form re-
public. Respect was shown to the
prayer of the dead monarch, and four
years after his demise, March 81, 1886,
the republic of Tavolara was born.
The hardy Latin fishermen got together
and formed a constitution. Under it
q President was elected to hold Office
for six years, and to serve without pay.
The President was to share the cares
of Office with a council of six. who,
like him, should receive no remunera-
ton. One year later King Humbert,
Of Italy. officially acknowledged the in-
of the little republic.
While Tavolara is the smallest re-
publican community in the world (pos-
ing as natlon) it is actually larger
in physical area than the republic of
3oust, which, however, has twice the
population of the former. Almost two
hundred and fifty years have seen the
autonomy of Goust undisturbed while
invasion. conquest and absorption of
weaker countries by the stronger have
been going on all over the world.
Somewhat more than a mile in area,
located on mountain summit in the
chain of the Lower Pyrenees. the little
republic dates from 1913. The joint
recognition by France and Spain of its
independence renders it as much
nation as Switzerland. There is no
president. but Council of Twelve ad-
minister's the government by appoint
ing from among its own members a
thief deputy with special powers.
This deputy seems to be good deal of
Pooh-Ba in his way, for he assesses
he taxes and collects them. presides
Is a judicial functionary and acts in