The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-10
TINY REPUBLICS.
Many Prosperous Communities
Little Heard OF.
Philadelphia Inquirer.

Philadelphia Inquirer.
To many people the fact that there are a
number of hOurfshing. independent republics
in existence at the present time which are
practically unknown to the outside world
will doubtless seem almost incredible. There
are, however, tiny states in various parts of
Europe so completely isolated from the rest
OF the world that it is very few maps on
which any trace of them can be found. But
I'm spite of this they are very important
communities in themselves and can boast of
a prosperous existence which would be
credit To any state.
One of the most interesting OF these Tom
Thumb republics is AndOrra, an almost In
accessible state of about $500 inhabitants
situated in the Eastern Pyrenees. Andorra
declared fsee state long ago as the
ninth century by Charlemagne, and at the
present time holds kind OF semi-independ-
ent position between France and Spain. Inc
republic, however, is governed by its own
representatives, who constitute a sovereign
council of twenty-four members. which
council elects a president every four years.
The chief occupations OF the AndOrranos
are agriculture, cattle breeding, trade In
wood, charcoal and wool, and especially
smuggling. At the same time they are good
natured. Woodworking, hospitable people,
and, needless to say, are devoted TO liberty,
which they are prepared To defend with a
standing army of LOO men.
About $50 miles from Andorra, in the
Bases PyTenees, Is to be found another
miniature republic. which. far is
concerned. has the distinction OF being the
smallest self-gOYerned state in the world. 1t
Is called st. GOust. and is hardly a square
mile in area The population numbers about
40 souls. who rule themselves mainly owing
TO the fact that no one will take the trouble
10 alter its constitution
St. Goust is situated on rocky noun
tain top. which Is so steep that when any
body dies IL iS quite impossible to have an
ordinary funeral coffin could not be
carried down the mountain side. and con-
bat mi IN cuf a
into the face of the rocks and the cof-
in Is made fast 20 rope and allowed 10
slide down TO the cemetery in Ossan valley
below. where all baptisms and marriages
are performed.
The President of St Goust who. by the
ny, is also tax collector. assessor and Judge,
is elected by a council of thirteen. who are
chosen for five years by the people, the lit
tie republic having been ruled for more
than 1000 years through council OF Ell
ders.'
The smallest republican state in regard
TO population is TavOlara. a little known
island about five miles long. with an aver
age width OF half a mile, situated off the
north coast of Sardinia. Many maps and
geography books totally ignore the exist
ence Of this state. Yet it Is a free and in
dependent republic of about seventy inhab-
itants who are their own rulers.
The people of TavOlara declared their In
dependence as recently as 1896. the island
having previously been made over in 1886
by King Charles Albert, OF Sardinia 10 the
BartOleOni family. None of the great pow
erS OBJECTED Wnen the island threw OF the
yoke OF monarchy, and during the last
seventeen years the inhabitants have lived
at peace with the world. They elect a
President every six years. and a council
of six members, all OF whom serve the state
without payment
Jealousy between Belgium and Prussia
has enabled the inhabitants OF "A tiny terri
tory called Moresnet near AiX-la-Chapelle,
10 enjoy the rights of republican citizen
ship for the last two centuries. The two
countries mentioned could not agree as to
VINO should own Moresnet, and consequent
" they decided 10 make IL neutral country.
There are about 5000 people in MOresnet.
who elect their own President and council
OF five. in whom the government of the
republic Is vested
IL Is also owing 10 a disagreement be-
tween Austria and Servia that the folk who
have taken up their residence on certain
little island in the Danube pay no taxes
and acknowledge allegiance TO nobody. The
island. which has very appropriately been
called NObodys island. formed many
years ago By the accumulation OF mud and
sand carried down by the great river during
n flood. Since then Austria and Servia have
been quarreling about its possession.
At low water the island is almost con-
nected with the Servian shore by a narrow
tongue OF sand. while al high water IL lies
nearer the Austrian island OF OsztrOvaer
Consequently no one can decide 10 whom
IL really belongs; and, as the island is not
worth enough to make IL advisable for the