The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-22
VERY SMALL REPUBLICS.
OF Which the Smallest Is Said to b

OF Which the Smallest Is Said to Be
Tavolara, Near Sardinia.
There are a number of small repub-
lies in the world about which so little
Is known that not one person in
thousand could tell about them, yet
each is little kingdom in itself,
with a president and council to gov
ern state affairs and it's own peculiar
trials and troubles to worry the peo-
pie. As regards population, the small
est republic in the world is that of
Tayolara, an island about five miles
long and an average width of a little
more than half miles, situated about
a. dozen miles to the northeast OF
Sardinia. The total population of the
whole republic does not exceed sixty,
but they elect a president every six
years and a council of six members all
Of whom serve the state without pay.
The women of this island go to the
polls and vote with the men, and ever
since it became q republic, In 1896, all
public business has been transacted
without turmoil, the elections taking
place without any high party feeling
or undue excitement.
In 1886 King Charles Albert of Sar-
dinia granted the Island of Tavolara
to a family of the name of Bartoleoni,
but in less than half a century the in
habitants threw off the yoke of mon
archy and took to themselves the right
to be governed by themselves. This
little war did not alarm the world and
was quite a peaceful one. King Paul
/. reigned until 1882, and on his death
bed requested that none of his kin
should succeed to, the throne, and as
no one claimed the honor, four years
later the people decided to draw UP a
constitution, and Tavolara has been a
very successful little republic since
Twelve years ago it's independence was
recognized by Italy, and it is to be pre-
sumed, other powers would have recog-
nized it also if they had known of its
existence.
Very few people have heard of the
existence of the republic of Goust,
which is situated on the fiat top of a
mountain in the Bases Pyrenees,
south of France. 1t has but an area OF
one and quarter square miles and
population of 140 so that, as regards
size, it can fairly claim to be the small
est republic in the world. 1t is an old
err republic than the United States, hav-
ing been in existence since l64S, and
enioys the distinction of being recog-
nized by both Spain and France. The
president is elected from an Elder col
lege. consisting of twelve peasants
who are chosen every twelve years by
the people. The president is also tax
collector, assessor and judge. If, how
ever, his decisions are displeasing to
the people they appeal to the Bishop OF
Taurus in the Spanish parish down the
mountain side and what the Bishop
says is law. Goust is certainly a unique
place, for it has no church or clergy
men, the people worshipping in church.
es beyond the limits of their country
Neither have they any burial ground,
and when death occurs among them the
body is slid down to a cemetery in the
valley below. In this valley, too, all
the baptisms and marriages takes
place.
There is a perfectly organized re-
public in the western part of North
Carolina; but, although it is practical
~ independent of both state and ma
tional governments, it has never been
recognized by foreign Powers, although
its independence Is acknowledged by
the American government at Washing
ton. This little republic is known as
Qualia republic, the home of about a
thousand Of the Cherokee Indians. 1t
consists of a tract of about eighty
suare miles Of rich valley land.