Shadow of the Andes - An Interactive Chilean AAR

Chile is triumphant. As promised, the Free Chilean Navy honoured its obligations to the Fatherland and protected Chile from the predations of the French invaders. The French fleet has been scattered, left unable to even defend its ill-gotten colonies. Under the masterful guidance of Grand Admiral Alvarez, the Navy has delivered upon victory unto the throne of the Fatherland. We have faced the titan and we have prevailed. Chile is now the paramount power in the Americas, unchallenged and unassailable.

So why, after the Free State has so conclusively demonstrated its loyal to the Fatherland, does Senor de Escovedo speak of depriving it of its rightful territories and sending its government into exile? Is this any way to reward a stalwart friend and ally who has shed blood for the defence of the nation? It is only right that Martinique be placed under the administration of the Free State, when it was the Free State that bore the brunt of the fighting. Did the people of Panama resist the French invasion only to have their homeland conquered without their consent? Did the men of the Navy spill their blood for no benefit?

I believe that this war displays the benevolence of the status quo. The Free State shall stand with Chile, whatever the circumstances. The Free Chilean Navy shall defend the Fatherland against all external aggression. We are all Chileans - a nation united under God. Let us seek peace and prosperity. Let us cooperate and coexist. For then, Chile shall be truly unstoppable, and no European power shall ever dare to enviously eye the mainland ever again, for fear of the multitudinous warships that shall descend upon them and send their insidious schemes plunging into the abyss.

- President Charles Maximilien de Conti

State Capitalism: The economy must be watched over by the state, so as to make sure no one class is oppressing another and to make sure that every Chilean is doing the most he or she possibly can to benefit the Fatherland.
I propose creating a National Trade Union, so that the workers, the capitalists, and the government may all sit down and speak with another in a set, central location. I also believe taxes should be lowered as much as possible without running a deficit.

Protectionism: The Chilean economy should be made as self-sufficient as possible, and foreign products should be gradually phased out in favor of products of the Fatherland. Tariffs should therefore be levied on foreign products.

Jingoism: The military is the center of the Fatherland, and thus it should be prioritized over everything else. To fail to support our military is to invite foreign powers in to Chile in order to control and manipulate the Fatherland.

Secularism: The National Revolution was a revolution of the Chilean people, by the Chilean people, for the Chilean people. Religion should therefore have no influence over the workings of the government that has resulted.

Residency: The Fatherland is Chilean, and only Chilean. The foreign hordes must be kept OUT of Chile, and the beautiful culture of our glorious Fatherland must be preserved and protected against the dangers of foreign radicals.

This century will be a Chilean century under me! Vote Mateo Sáez for a strong, independent Fatherland!

I was thinking on supporting Hidalgo, but his laissez faire views will kill our new industries in Jujuy. Therefore I give Mateo Saez my support.

It is precisely because of his free market views that I endorse General Hidalgo again.

Riccardo93 said:

It is precisely because of his free market views that I endorse General Hidalgo again.

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I thank you for your support, Senor. I am firmly of the belief that a free industry is the best way towards economic prosperity.

- Gen. Sebastian Hidalgo

In this current spirit of executive cooperation, I would wish to propose two bills to parliament. This was the legislative agenda that I was unable to implement in my first term of office, owing to the extraordinary circumstances. Since for legal reasons, I cannot propose such bills myself, I would invite an official of the Continental Administration to adopt and champion them. If they are passed on the mainland, separate sister legislation shall be adopted in Panama.

The content of the bills is as follows:

Help for Heroes Act

1. If a soldier of the Chilean armed forces is discharged from service:
a) having received a wound, injury or ailment in the line of duty;
b) having been honourably discharged due to said injury or expiration of service;
c) having not been charged with any misdemeanour during time of service, whether criminal or martial;
d) having proved that the aforementioned ailment is serious and debilitating and thus undermines or disallows active employment,
2. The State shall grant a military pension to the said soldier, exceeding no more than three hundred pesos per annum and varying upon conditions,
3. This pension shall elapse upon the death of the recipient,
4. Should the recipient die within five years of being discharged, a clear causality having been established between injuries inflicted in service and the premature death, the pension shall be extended for ten years to the wife and/or offspring of the recipient,
5. After ten years, the extension of the pension shall elapse.

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Faith and Fatherland Act

1. Recognising that this is a Christian Nation:
a) the majority of the population being Christian;
b) Christianity being the official religion of Chile;
2. Prohibits any measure to persecute or suppress the Christian faith,
3. Ensures protected status to the Catholic Church from government interference.

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- President Charles Maximilien de Conti

Hidalgo! I am so pleased to hear that you are running! You are truly loved by the people and will, I'm sure, make a great Caudillo in the years to come. Your status as a war hero will help our regim--I mean-- government gain even more popularity with the Chilean masses. I am also overjoyed that you have decided to embrace Laissez-Faire as an economic policy. I am also happy you support protectionism, for our nation is now both large enough to hold its own and too notorious to attract large-scale investors from Europe and North America. I am sorry Senors Escovedo and Saez and I wish you the best of luck in your cabinet appointments but General Hidalgo is destined to become the Caudillo we rally behind.

---Caitan Crazzio---

Senor Hidalgo certainly has my vote of confidence as well, due to his opinions about the economy, for the nonce. I do believe though that the honorable General should find someone who can run his armies in his absence should he become the next elected Presidente.

And no Hidalgo, I am not asking for your armies, my place is near the capital. So you need to find some other loyal person.

As to the bills from the President of the Free State. I believe they are a travesty and should not even be put to vote, that is all.

General de Porto.

Have we removed from law the bill that forced any General running for a political office to give up their position in the Army?
I only ask so that Hidalgo does not find himself suddenly not in command of his armies.

Even after observing popular sentiment behind Hidalgo, I will not withdraw from the race at this point. Hidalgo and I are very good friends, and have been since I joined the Patriotas party so many years ago. However, I feel that I must stand for some of the positions that we do not share. It is, of course, important to receive votes; I deem it more important, however, to stand by one's principles. And that is precisely what I plan to do.

Regarding the bills from de Conti, they are a non-effect. He is not President here, and I along with others do not recognize the man as President in Panama. Due to the sacrifices of his navy, I will recognize him as President in Martinique; I encourage himself and his allies to move there, so they might take pride in their well-earned accomplishment. Thus, it is my opinion that his bills effect only Panama for the time being, and Martinique for as long as de Conti would like.

Candidate Alejandro Ruiz de Escovedo, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Perhaps he can give his armies to Fernandez? We certainly cannot doubt Fernandez's support of the cause.

I believe it is only apt that a Presidente should not be in two places at once.

The Third Way: Yes

As of now I throw my support behind Mateo Sáez as his platform appeals to me the best.


~ Admiral de Tagle y Fuentes

OldCleric said:

It is, of course, important to receive votes; I deem it more important, however, to stand by one's principles.

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Like when you abandoned the Partido Republicano for the Partido Patriota after you lost the nomination?

- President Charles Maximilien de Conti

One has naught to do with the other; I have held the same principles, but they have always been more suited to the Patriotas. You know a bit about abandonment, don't you, de Conti? After following the example of your French ancestors and fleeing to Panama and abandoning we Nationalists, you have no right to speak regarding our elections. In fact, it is you who abandons his principles. I remember the very day in which you decreed that you would create a National Government of all parties. Now, to save your self-righteous skin, you ban the Communistas and go back on the only position you've ever held. So, Charles, I would be much obliged if you would keep your mind on the affairs of Martinique; no matter who gets elected, you'll need to re-negotiate an actual deal, taking into account actual power.

Candidate Alejandro Ruiz de Escovedo, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Let's not be so hard on poor de Conti. He has the delusion that he still is president of a country, when he in reality is the ruler of a glorified ditch full of mud, and some odd French snail plantations. And in reality pretty much a puppet who does anything the big bad Caudillo tell him to do. All in all, a sad relic of a man who once scared the hell out of us Socialists. I can't believe we once feared that man would install a Tyranny.

No, poor de Conti does everything in his ability to stay relevant. But he doesn't even know which side he is on. Does he support the Rosenoists, and if he does, what point is there with his regime anymore. Or does he back us in the Resistance? Then he hasn't done much to prove it, sadly.

I am Agitating!

- Pablo Garcia, Trade Unionist

I would urge you two to reconsider your remarks concerning De Conti. He first left Chile amid a flurry of confusion and to this day we do not know the full story behind it. Something about a missing telegraph? I am not positive, but I know that De Conti was as ardent a nationalist as you or I. He was the one... sorry senor De Conti.... who first called us together to participate in an overthrow of the 3rd republic. We should not be so quick to call him a coward when he was the one willing to stick his neck out and call us together. Without his initiative we may never have risen up to take power.

Of course, that is all in the past. The future should be the primary concern of any self-respecting nationalist. Therefore I urge the Frente Nacional to engage in friendly diplomacy with the Chilean Free State. De Conti especially seeks only peace and prosperity for the fatherland and his goals are noble ones. If, after contemplating all of these facts, you still would like nothing better than De Conti's head on a stick, let me point out that the ENTIRE Chilean navy is in the hands of the Free State. They also control one of the most important waterways on the planet as well as a few Caribbean holdings. If even THAT doesn't make you think twice about all out warfare with the Free State then I shall break it down even further, into equations...

War=bad=fractured realm=no navy=economy hurt
Friendliness=good=re-integration=strong navy=economy not hurt

---Caitan Crazzio---

I second Señor Crazzio's desire to have an economy not hurt. First build us a navy, then talk again about pressuring the Free State.

cavebear3000 said:

He was the one... sorry senor De Conti.... who first called us together to participate in an overthrow of the 3rd republic.
---Caitan Crazzio---

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Thanks, I have been wondering about that.

De Conti will deny it, and he should. Personal talks between politicos have no relevance in the Senate chamber.