Fiftypence: Could be. Alas Parnell's stubborness (and adultery)
is historical...
J. Passepartout : I should think so! And what is the rest of the world thinking watching this, I wonder...
Mettermrck: Thanks.
Also thank you for your US AAR, which partially inspired me.
GhostWriter: You think?
Macdonald
did win historically, which would seem to defeat the purpose of this AAR (especially as, realistically, he would revert to being a pro-British Dominion, inside the Empire).
Part 7: Election '83 - And the winner is...
Above: Despite the general good humour of the election certain freethinking malcontents insted on being heard.
While the parties wound down their campaigns in July, there were several attempts to disrupt the process by women demanding the vote. Fortunatly the forces of law and order were able to prevent these few extremists and allow democracy to carry on it's natural path.
Gathered in Montreal with their respective underlings, sycophants and hatchetmen the four candidates gathered in Montreal in the last week of July to await the results of the vote, which should be known by 2nd August. They shared an uneasy public dinner on the 27th July, cutting distinctive figures - Parnell, withdrawn and inscrutable; Devoy, depressed and talkative, Napoléon, still dazzled to be there at all and Macdonald, solemn and dignified. After some polite talk and a fine French meal Devoy and Napoléon found themselves sharing cigars and brandy in the Arcadian Club (the most prestigous gentlemens club in Montreal of which all candiates had been offered membership. Parnell had vanished hours earlier and Macdonald, with stern Puritan control had retired early, leaving just the Republican and the Imperialist with each others company.
"Tell me, your Majesty," asked Devoy striking up a conversation as he selected a second cigar, "did you mean what you said about a union of our two peoples?"
"Qui Monsieur Devoy," said the young prince, his accent showing as he spoke enthusiastically in English, "I have read the great legends and poems of your people. I firmly believe that we shall be yet greater combined here in Canada - the Irish, the French and the Anglo's. I am not interested in forgetting the cause of Ireland - once I took up the invitation to run, it became my cause too - but I think Irish cause and the Canadian cause are one. Look at the Americans to our South! In a short time they have forged Anglo-Saxon and Frenchman, Dutch and Spanish, German and Pole into one identity. Can we not do the same here?"
Devoy did not reply for a while, simply enjoying his cigar. Eventually however he spoke again to the younger man: "Have you worked out who you'll take for you're Cabinet if you win?"
The Prince Imperial nodded, "Largely. The party has drawn up a constitution we'll put to the House if I win. Canada will be a Parliamenty Monarchy - like Germany. Of course I will need a capable Prime Minister... someone of dignity and capability who I can trust to tell me when I'm wrong and stay in touch with the people..."
"Anyone in mind?"
The prince looked shy for a moment, swirling his brandy glass in his hand, before looking at Devoy, a faint blush on cheeks. "Actually, I was thinking of asking you."
Devoy blinked at him in other astonishment. Then he laughed long and hard, till he began choking on cigar smoke. After waving away offers of help he regained sufficent control to grin at Napoléon a little weakly.
"What can I say your Majesty? I'll sleep on it."
As the two men shook hands and left for their lodgings Devoy gave the younger man a cheerful farewell: "May the best man win your Majesty," and feeling happier than he had in weeks he walked home, enjoying the cool night air.
Above: Election 1883, the results by state
Napoléon Eugène, Canadian Imperialist Party (CIP) : 610,500 votes, 102 Electoral
John A. Macdonald, Unionist Party (UP) : 412,500 votes, 99 Electoral
John Devoy, Republican Party (RP) : 346,500 votes, 13 Electoral
Charles Stewart Parnell, Liberal Party (LP) : 264,000 votes, 14 Electoral
In the end it was closer than anyone expected as the votes flooded in on 2nd August. Quebec as expected, went early and strongly for Napoléon, followed swiftly by New Brunswick and Nova Scotia for Macdonald. That was pretty much the end for Parnell who had been counting till the end on attracting sufficent Anglo-Canadian voters, but it hadn't worked - in fact it backfired badly as the exact number of votes came in (in the end only loyal Alberta would end up endorsing him). The now three horse race continued, with Manitoba falling to Devoy in the evening. The real struggle though was over Ontario which went on with nail biting tension, till suddenly, at just past 10 o'clock it was declared for Macdonald.
A dissapointed Devoy threw in the towel, but remained at the count anxiously watching developments - the question on everyone's lips was this: would Macdonald score a shock victory and turn back the clock?
Then suddenly the tide shifted again and a raft of states declared for Napoléon: British Columbia (with it's heavy Irish population, a Devoy target), Saskatchewan and the North West Territories. Like wildfire the incredible news spread through the city.
By 37% of the vote, and the slimest of Electoral votes Napoléon Eugène had won.