Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06
VERY SMALL REPUBLICS.
OF Which the Smallest is Said to Be
Tavolara, Near Sardinia.


Tavolara, Near Sardinia.
From Tit-Bits
There are number of small republics in
the world about which so little is known
that not one person in a thousand could tell
ABOUT them. yet each is a little kingdom In
itself. with a president and a council to
govern state affairs and it's own peculiar
trials and troubles to worry the people. AS
regards population. the smallest republic in
the world isthat of TavoIara, an island about
five miles long and with an average width
OF little more than half mile. situated
ABOUT dozen miles to the northeast of
oafdinaa. The total population Of the whole
republic does not exceed sixty. but they
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
i1en, and ever since 1t became republic,
In 1885, all public business has been trans
acted without turmoil, the elections taking
due excitement
In 1896 King Charles Albert of Sardinia
granted the Island Of Tavolara to a family
or the name of Bartoleoni, but in less ttian
half a century the inhabitants threw off
the yoke of monarchy and took to them
selves the right to be governed by them
selves. This little war did not alarm the
world and was quite a peaceful one. King
Paul l reigned until 1882, and on his death
peo requested that none of his kin should
succeed to the throne, and as no one claim
ed the honor four years later the people
uecided to draw up a constitution, and Ia
VoIara mas been very successful little re-
pubic since. Twelve years ago it's indie
penuence was recognized by Italy, and 1t Is
TO De presumed other powers would have
recognized it also IL they had known of its
existence.
Very few people have heard Of the exist
ence of the republic Of Goust which is sit
uated on the fiat top of mountain in the
Bases Pyrenees south of France. 1t has
but an area OF one and a quarter square
regards size. 1t fairly claim to be the
smallest republic in the world. It L. an
older republic than the United States, hav-
Ing been In existence since 1913, and enjoys
Spain and France. The president Is elected
from an elder college. 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 -clergymen, the people wor-
Shipping in churches 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 take place.
There is perfectly organized republic in
the western part of North Carolina; but al
though it is practically independent of both
state and national governments, it has
never been recognized by foreign powers
although it's independence is acknowledged
by the American government at Washing
ton. This little republic is known as Qualla
republic. the home of about thousand of
the Cherokee Indians. 1t consists of a
tract OF about eighty square miles of rich
valley land.
The president of the little republic is
elected every four years and receives SAL
airy Of $500 a year. When at Washington
however. on the republics business he re-
cefves IS day extra. None but Cherokee
of more than thirty-five years of age Is ell
gible for the position. When the chief is
absent his duties are performed by an as
sistant chief, member of the national
council, who receives a salary Of $500 per
year.
The chiefs cabinet is made up of three
secretaries and the council of congress
dred members Of the tribe Although the
chief possesses the veto power, he cannot
act in any matter of public policy without
the consent of the council. No one can
hold Office who denies the existence Of God
or Of heaven and hell, and the constitution
provides for the maintenance of a public
school in which both the Cherokee and the
English languages are taught. The Indian
citizens Of the Qualla reserve are all law
abiding and Industrious, and nearly all are
regular attendants at the Baptist or Meth
oQ1St cnurcn.
The republic Of San Marino In central
Italy, is perhaps the best known of these
tiny republics It's territory covers about
thirty-three square miles and the popula-
ton numbers about $500 souls. This min
iature state was founded in the fourth CEN
fury by st. Marfnus, who, having embraced
Christianity. fed there to escape the perse-
cution under Diocletian The capital San
Marine, Is on the crest of mountain over
1900 feet high and has population Of
1000 It Is one Of the most picturesque
places in the world. being perched on per-
pendicular cliffs.
In order to avoid copyright difficulties
there is no printing press in San Marine,
Is rung and those inhabitants who have
their dwellings up on the cliffs have to de-
scend to get their letters, for, owing to the
primitive state Of AFFAIRS. the postman never
ascends the rock. Another curious fact is
that the commissary. or judge, and the
physician must both be strangers and paid
out of the public purse.
The small half-French and half-Spanish
republic Of Andorra, which lies in an al
most inaccessible valley of the eastern
Pyrenees possesses charter of rights dat
ing from Charlemagne Ia 100. There is but
one way Of getting g Andorra from France,
and that is by the Hver Bolira. To reach 1t
from Spain you hav% TO be carried down by
mule over one Of thR most dangerous foot
maths in Europe There are six parishes in
the republic, and the whole contains about
1900 people, the territory covering an area
los