Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-06-22
DIMINUTIvE REPUBLICS.
Commonwealth that Consist OF But a
Handful of People.


Handful of People.
Many of the German principalities
are very small. In fact, it has been
said jokingly that when gun is fired
in one of them. the ball goes into the
| adjoining principality. But there are
some republics which are even smaller
than this. Our own country is so inn
mense in size that we are apt to think
every republic must be large, and yet
the world is spotted with small repub-
lies that are never heard Of
A few of them are known to
Biographies, but the majority of
them would give even a learned
would require more than a single
are found on islands so diminutive
| that they are marked only on naviga-
tors charts, and again they are found
between and in the center of king
doms. In area they run from less
than a square mile up to one hundred
square miles. In population they run
from fifty-five people mp to that many
hundreds. They are all republics in
that they are governed by the people.
| Tavolara is the smallest republic in
point of population on the face of the
the globe. It is an island five miles
long by fve-eighths of mile wide,
and is situated thirteen miles off the
coast of Sardinia. It's population num-
bers fifty-five souls. and their principal
occupation is fishing. The possession
and sovereignty of the island were
granted by the king of Sardinia to the
Bartoleoni family in 1886. and for many
years Paul / reigned over it.
Q He died in 1882, and before his death
he requested that the people of the
island should be allowed to govern
themselves. The islanders held mass
meeting on March %. 1886, and decided
to esta blish a republic. A constitu-
ton was drawn up giving the suffrage
to women as well as to men, and pro-
viding for the election of president
every six years.
The president does not receive sal
airy, and he is advised by a council OF
six, the members of which are elected
by the people. There are neither pay
nor perquisites attached to any of the
offices.
The independence of Tavolara was
recognized by Italy in 1887, but there
|
taken by any other country.
In point of area Goust is the most
diminutive of republics. It is situated
on the top of a mountain in the lower
| Pyrenees, and occupies an area of but
a fraction over a square mile. 1t has
population of one hundred and thir-
ty people. This republic has existed
since 164S. 1t is recognized by both
France and Spain.
The government is vested in coun-
ell consisting of twelve members, who
serve seven years. This council chooses
from it's number one who acts as chief
executive. He is tax collector, asses
sor, judge. etc, but there is an appeal
from all his acts to the bishop of La
rune in the valley below. Other than
these there are no officers.
The pass which leads down to La
rune is so steep that it is impossible to
carry heavy burdens either up or down.
The people have, therefore, built a
chute, down which they slide heavy
articles, and the bodies of their dead,
to be buried in the cemetery far below.
The inhabitants are long lived and ro-
bust, are shepherds and weavers of
cloth, and seem entirely contented
| with their lot.
| Another very small republic is that
of Franceville. an island in the New
Hebrides group, situated east of Aus
tralia. 1t has an area of eighty five
miles, and its population consists of
| forty whites and five hundred natives.
The island was once a colony of France,
but its independence was guaranteed
it in 1879. Its government consists of
president and an advisory council of
eight. who are chosen by the people.
The president is also a judge, and from
his decisions there IS no appeal. The
present president is Mr.. r. d. Polk, a
native of this country.-Gelden Days.