The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-11-01
A Few Examples Of Popular
Government.
THE RECORD OF 4 HISTORY.
size Not Essential to independence.
The Smallest Republican Army of
Three SoIdiers-A Quaint old Place.
Hawaii Larger than Any of Them.

The pprmanence of republican insti-
tutiOns in Hawaii has been doubted
by many prophets, who hinted that
the new commonwealth would eX-
| perience difficulty in maintaining its
! independence, says the New York
Mail and Express. Did these predict
ers ever consider how many other
republics, much smaller in size and in
population, several of them, too with
out the advantage of insular position,
! had stood the test of time and pre-
served their autonomy, in spite of the
jealousies of their powerful neigh hors?
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 aud
every other important respect which
has long remained in the peculiar pO
sitiOn of being Independent and fre e
| from interference without ever having
! had its national existence formally
| recognized. It's first settlers, from
| whom the present inhabitants are eX
clusvely descended, We're the mutin
Gus crew of an English man-Of- war,
| Bounty, famous in story
Lying in the southern seas in the
region of the AuStralasian continent,
! is the island of FTanceville. One of
the New Hebrides, it is not far from
New Caledonia. In area eighty Odd
miles, it is mainly occupied by 'out
500 natives, the white Inhabitants be
ing less than hall "a hundred. France,
which originally had control of this
| place, gave it, in 1879, a charter of in
dependence, promising that no other
power should be permitted 10 inter
| fere with it. The people elect presi
dent, who governs with the ali of an
advisory council of eight members
The president, in addition to his ad
ministrative functions, exercises judi
ciai powers, and there is no appeal
from his decisions. Although no Office
can be held by cOlOred citizens, uni
versal suffrage prevails, vii hout dis
tinctiOn of sex or color. The chief
trade of the island is with France, and
is sufficiently good to afford II living
for all, pauperism being unknown.
Just now the president is an Ameri-
can, r. d. Polk.
The Smallest Republic.
To Europe, however, we must look
for the smallest of ali self governing
peoples Some dozen miles from the
scandinavian coast to tie northeast,
the long, narrow island of Tavolara
rises from the sea. Five miles long,
and about half mile wide, its soil Is
cultivated by the natives only to
limited extent, fishing being the staple
industry. Tavolara's census shows
population of but fifty or siXty souls,
a miniature republic, indeed. Nearly
sixty years ago the then King of Sar-
dinia, Charles Albert, gave he island
to the BartOleOni fami y, who, III the
person of King Paul |, rris ned supreme
as a royal bOuse until 1882. This ruler
died under peculiar circumstances.
sufferer from heart disease, he sat
down to write biz will and was found
dead 10 his armchair a few hours later.
The will itself was unique dOcu
ment, for King Paul, instead OF devils
ing legacie-, had simply requested
that the island kingdom be surrender
Ell by the BartOlt Oui family To the
people, who were to form a republic.
Respect was shown to the prayer of
the dead monarch, and four years
after his demise, March %, 1886, the
republic of Tavolara was born. Tue
hardy Latin fishermen got together
and formed a Constitution. Under 1t
"a President was elected to 10 Il office
for SIX years and to serve without pay.
The President was to share tie cares
of office with u council of six, who,
like him, should receive 30 r-muntr-
alton. One year later King Humbert
of Italy officially Acknowledged the
indep peudence of the little r-pu"lic
While TavOlara is the small est r--
publican community iU the world
lposiug a. a nation ii l. actually
larger in physical area than the r.
public of GOust, which, however, mas
twice the population of tie Turner
Almost two hundred and fifty years
have seen the autonomy OF Gousr un-
disturbed, while invasion, conquest
aud absorption OF weak-r 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 Pyreu-es, the little republc
dates from 1913. The JOINT recognition
by France and Spain of is indrpeu-
deuce renders il as much hattun as
Tbara IL President