The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-29
SOME TINY REPUBLICS.
The Smallest is in the Mediterran-
can sen, and Has n Population of
Sixty Souls.

SHY SOuAS.
From the Brooklyn Eagle.
There are a number of small repub-
lies 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 council to govern state
affairs and its own peculiar trials and
troubles to worry the people. AS re-
CARDS population, says a writer in Tit
Bits, the smallest republic in the world
IS that of Tavolara. an island about
five miles long, with an average of a
little more than half a mile. situated
about 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 1t became republic. in 1886, all
public business has been transacted
without turmoil, the elections taking
place without any high party feeling
or undue excitement.
In 1895 King Charles Albert of Sar-
DINA granted the Island of Tavolara
to family of the name of Bartoleoni,
but in less than half a century the in
fabitants threw off the yoke of mon
archy and took to themselves the right
TO be governed by themselves. This lit
tie war did not alarm the world. and
was quite a peaceful one. King Paul
hi I.,e, =
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
constitution, and Tavolara has been a
very successful little republic since.
Twelve years ago its independence was
recognized by Italy, and, it is to be
presumed, other Powers would have
recognized it also if they had known
of it's existence.
Very few people have heard of the
existence of the Republic of Goust,
which is situated on the fat top of a
mountain in the Bases Pyrenees, south
of France. 1t has but an area, of one
and quarter square miles, and a pop
ulation of 140; so that, as regards size
1t can fairly claim to be the smallest
republic in the world. 1t is an older
republic than the United States, hav-
ing been in existence since 1884 and
enjoys 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 Laruns, in the Spanish parish down
the mountain side, and what the bish-
op says is law. Goust is certainly a
unique place, for it has no church or
clergyman, the people worshipping 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 ceme-
terry in the valley below, In this val
ley, too, all the baptisms and marriages
take place.
There is a perfectly organized repub-
lie in the western. part of North Caro-
lima; but, although it is practically in
dependent of both state and national
governments. 1t has never been recog-
nized by foreign powers, although it's
independence is acknowledged by the
American government at Washington.
This little republic is known as the
lQdnd Ik6PuDllC, IlG NOME Oh ABOUT d
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 re-
ceives a salary of $500 a year. When
at Washington, however, on the repub-
lies business, he receives IS a day ex-
ira. None but Cherokee of more than
s. years of age is eligible for the po-
sition. When the chief is absent his
duties are performed by an assistant
chief, a member of the National Coun-
ell, who receives a salary of $3.50 per
year.
The chiefs cabinet is made up of
three secretaries. and the Council of
Congress comprises two delegates from
every 100 members of the tribe. AL
though 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 pub
lie school in which both the Cherokee
and the English language are taught.
The Indian citizens of the Qualla re-
serve are all law abiding and indus
trious, and nearly all are regular at
tCludIilS at LdPllSl VI
Church.
The Republic of San Marine. in Cen
trail Italy. is perhaps the best known
of these tiny republics. Its territory
covers about thirty-three square miles
and the population numbers about $500
souls. This miniature state was found
ed in the fourth century by st. Mari
nus. who, having embraced Christian
ity, fed there to escape the persecu-
ton under Diocletian. The capital. San
Marine. is on the crest of a mountain
over 1000 feet high and has a popula-
ton of 1900. 1t is one of the most
picturesque places I'm the world, being
perched on perpendicular cliffs.
In order to avoid copyright difficult
ties there is no printing press in San
Marine, and when the mail arrives at
Borgo a bell is rung, and those inhab-
itants who have their dwellings on
the cliffs have to descend 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 ply
stefan must both be strangers and paid
out of the public purse.
The small half French and half Span
ish republic of Andorra, which lies in
an almost inaccessible valley of the
Eastern Pyrenees, possesses a charter
OF rights dating from Charlemange in
100. There is but one way of getting
to Anoorra from France. and that is
by the River Bolira. To reach it from
Spain you have to be carried down by
mule over one of the, most dangerous
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