The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-27
Rise of Panama Brings to Notice
Small Governments Often
Forgotten.
TAvoLARA TOM THUMB OF ALL
Moresnet, Near Aix-la- Chapelle,
st. Goust and Andorra, Di-
minutive, Yet Belligerent,
Remain Independent.
SPECIAL BY CABLE.

SPECIAL BY CABLE.
London, Dec. 26-The establishment of a
new government at Panama brings to
mind the fact that there are many -four
ishing independent Republics that are sell
dom heard of.
There are various little States in Europe
SO Isolated from the rest Of the world that
even the mapmakers overlook them: yet
they govern themselves, and are to all In
tents and purposes distinct in themselves.
One Of the most interesting Of these
Tom-Thumb Republics is Andorra. an al
most inaccessible State of about $500 in
habitants. in the Eastern Pyrenees.
Andorra was declared free State as
long ago as the Ninth Century, by Charlie
magne. and at the present time holds a
kind of semi-independent position between
France and Spain.
its own representatives, who constitute
a sovereign Council OF twcnty-four mem
bers. which Council elects President ev-
cry four years.
Tho chief occupations of tho Andorranos
are agriculture, cattle breeding, trade in
wood. charcoal and wool. and especially
smuggling. At the same. time they are
Sood.natured. Woodworking, hospitabfe
people, and are devoted to liberty, which
they are prepared to defend with a stand
ing army of LOO men.
aDOul lOV IlllleS tHe
Bases Pyrenees. is to be found another
miniature Republic, which. go far as area
Is concerned, has the distinction of being
the smallest self-governed State in the
hardly square mile in area.
The population numbers about 100 souls.
who rule themselves, mainly owing to the
fact that the little State is SO hard to get
at that no one will take the trouble to
alter its constitution.
SITUATED ON MOUNTAIN.
st. Goust is situated on a rocky noun
tain top, which is so steep that when any,
body dies it is impossible to have an or
binary funeral
A coffin could not be carried down the
mountain side. and consequently the IN
of the rock. and the coffin Is made fast to
rope and allowed to slide down to the
cemetery in Ossan Valley below, where all
baptisms and marriages are performed:
The President of st. Goust, who, by the
by, is also Tax Collector. Assessor and
Judge, is elected by council OF twelve.
who are chosen for five years by the peo-
pie. the little Republic having been ruled
for more than 1000 years through q
Council of Elders
The smallest republican State iii re-
card to population Is Tay1lara IA iitts
an average width of half a mile, off the
north coast of Sardinia.
Many maps and geography books total.
L
| 1t Is free and independent Republic OF
| about seventy Inhabitants, who are their
| own rulers.
! The people Of Tavolara declared their IN
! dependence In 1886, the island having pre-
yiously been made over. in 1886. by King
| Charles Albert of Sardinia to the Bar
| toleoni family. None of the great Powers
| objected when the island threw Off the
| yoke of monarchy, and during the last
seventeen years the Inhabitants have lived
| at peace with the world.
They elect President every six years
and Council of six members. all OF whom
serve the State without pay.
Jealousy between Belgium and Prussia
| has enabled the inhabitants Of a tiny ter
\ sitory, called Moresnet, near Aix-la-Chap-
ellie. to enjoy the rights of republican cit
tzenship for the last two centuries. The
| two countries mentioned could not agree
as to who should own Moresnet. and con-
sequently they decided to make it neutral
| country.
There are about 5000 persons In Moresnet.
| who elect their own President and Council
OF five, In whom the Government OF the
Republic is vested.
INHABITANTS PAY no TAXES.
1t is also owing to disagreement be-
tween Austria and Servia that the folk
who have taken up their residence on a