• We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
I fixed the updates, but I was playing around with the immigration code and somehow set my immigration attractiveness to like x10 or so.

So, this next update is going to be ... interesting.
 
Chapter Sixteen: Railroads and Railroading

1st of May, 1895:

The Liberal Coalition would prove to be a surprisingly resilient in the face of unexpected adversity. These trials of the Liberal parties began just after the election, arriving in three main waves. The first wave was in the form of increased immigration, which lasted from the day the election ended to August 8th, 1893. While not normally an issue, and indeed a boon to Cascadia for the longest of times, the overwhelming numbers flocking to Cascadia proved to be difficult to handle. Some one million male immigrants from Europe, fleeing war and poverty, arrived at the Western Coast of Cascadia, or rode the Trans-Canada Railway to the Cascadian border. Fleeing primarily from the Ukraine, Polish Austria-Hungary, Ireland, German Denmark, or Bohemia-Moravia. These immigrants would come and define the cultural flavour of Northern British Colombia for years and generations to come.

An ad-hoc census, conducted shoddily due to the immense need to catalogue who and where people were within Cascadia, found they primarily settled on the borders of Cascadia, avoiding the large cities. Prince George, Fort Saint John, Victoria, and Spokane saw the largest population explosions, with the population of Prince George becoming majority Polish as of the 1893. Finally flooded with immigrants of European origin, and no longer needing of Chinese immigrants to act as the nation's disposable workforce, the political will to impose the Head Tax on all Chinese immigration became all the more apparent. On the 26th of April, 1894, the House of Commons required all citizens of China to pay a 15$ tax to immigrate to Cascadia. This all but killed immigration from China to Cascadia, much to the delight of the Liberal and Conservative Parties.

29337e77-348f-4f57-ba2e-99208b0a8144.jpg

Galician Immigrants arriving at the Prince George railstation in Northern British Colombia; C. 1894.
The second major challenge was breaking the American Railroad trusts. In the simplest terms, the locomotives were better and the cabins nicer than anything that Cascadia could produce, and the Cascadian populace had gotten used to that quality of ride. Now, unwanting to have the electorate turn on them for ignoring their campaign promises, but also unwilling to have the electorate become bitter over their derogation of the quality of railroads, Prime Minister Ferry privately asked some of his old acquaintances from California to come North and emigrate to Cascadia in order to become "Native Cascadian Rail Companies". While unnoticed by the Cascadian populace, the government moved to restrict all railways to those owned (or control 51% of shares by) Cascadian firms. Even though these firms were newly imported from California, and were primarily utilising American locomotives and cabins, they were championed as "Brave Cascadians fighting against the American Beast". What could have been a massive scandal was nicely ignored, even though it took some effort to actually bring the California firms North.

The last wave came just at the turn of 1895. A border incident, when a Canadian agent tried to cross through the border and was (surprisingly) caught by a forester as he was lost in the British Colombian wilds. This, after some discussion with the Governor-General, led to the condemnation of the Canadian Dominion by Cascadia. This in turn resulted in the Canadian Dominion privately trying to claim Northern British Colombia as rightful Canadian territory. Unfortunately for Canada, an ambassador forgot these plans in his home, where they blew out the window and were found by a patriotic Cascadian citizen. This in turn led to the public emberasment of the Canadian diplomatic corps, as Governor-General Hamilton-Gordon acted on behalf of Cascadia within the United Kingdom and in a guest speech publicly derided the Dominion and its treatment of the "fragile Cascadian Nation".

This in turn led to both nations increasingly sending pioneers and colonists into the Yukon, which was still unclaimed by any power. The Race for the Yukon would not be solved by 1895, as both Canada and Cascadia deployed some 3,000 militiamen in order to "protect" their respective colonists. The Cascadian Yukon was primarily based out of the city of Skagway, where some 400 rough and tumble citizens lived. In the Canadian portion of the Yukon Whitehorse was the largest settlement, being of a similar size. Tensions between the two Dominions were barely soothed by British administrators, as they flailed to keep this rivalry from expanding into something more.

This seemingly would come to a head soon, as in 1895 it was announced that Governor-General Arthur Hamilton-Gordon would be stepping down as the Governor-General of Cascadia. His closeness to Prime Minister Gladstone and the British Liberals was a great defense against Canada and their closeness with the Tories. His loss was shocking to many (having gotten used to the rather soft line that was Governor-General term endings) and there was a flutter over who to replace him with. The replacement for Gladstone, Prime Minister Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, decided to appoint Robert Carrington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire, as the newest Governor-General. Former Governor of New South Wales, Robert Carrington was expected to carry on the liberal legacy of Hamilton-Gordon within Cascadia.

200px-1stMarquessOfLincolnshire.jpg

Governor-General Robert Carrington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire, 4th Governor-General of Cascadia
 
Chapter Seventeen: "I Dream of Yukon Skies"

15th of December, 1896:

Governor-General Carrington would have, seemingly like all the Governor-Generals before him, a crisis before him just as he entered Victoria Harbour. The Prime Minister of Cascadia, the Right Honourable Elisha Ferry, passed away on the 14th of October 1895 of a cold. Parliament would reconvene and decided to appoint the National Democrat MP, Dr. Thomas R. McInnes, to the position instead of holding a general election with the acceptance of the Liberal Party.

However the Right Honourable Dr. McInnes was a Canadian citizen as well, something that the Conservative Party immediately jumped on.

Though holding the confidence of the Liberal Coalition, the Conservatives immediately began to catcall the Prime Minister as a foreigner who stole the seat from Cascadian electorate without the input of said electorate. Sympathy for the Conservatives rose as the issue of Yukon colonisation began to heat up. Neither the Canadian nor the Cascadian governments, both viewing pulling from the Yukon as an unacceptable political option, with the viability of their respective governments on the line. On top of all of this, the discovery of gold in August of 1896 would exacerbate the issue, as the Yukon would fill with Cascadian and Canadian nationals searching for the fabled motherlode of gold that would make them rich.

f8badbbb-95b8-44cf-a053-5589845ee1ef.jpg

Cascadian Settlers on their way to Klondike Gold through the Chilkoot Pass; C. 1896.
This gold rush would push the hands of the Liberals, National Democrats, and Conservatives, as letter writing campaigns pushing for pro-colonisation would flood the office of seemingly every respectable MP in the nation. All the while, the Yankees in the southern provinces would take issue to all this focus to the North. At the behest of Thurston Daniels, the Yankee populist from Washington Province, a conference would be held in Seattle by prominent Yankee politicians from across the three southern provinces. Discussing the need to represent their politics in the House, it was decided that a new party was needed. Thus the Confederation of Southern Interests was formed, with Thurston at the helm. For all intents and purposes, this was seen by the general Cascadian populace as the birth of a newest reactionary party in Cascadia, with the Imperialist Party and the Traditionalist Clique being absorbed into the National Democrats and being dissolved from lack of members respectfully that year.

While the world focused on a variety of other crises and international incidents, the tension of Yukon issue would rise throughout the year. The Conservatives would see their numbers gain throughout the nation as patriots flocked from the National Democrats to their banner. In turn, the Liberals found a calling in those that wished deliberations between the Canadian and Cascadian governments to occur rather then waiting around for an incident to flair up. To these party's benefits, the National Democrats would lose, as internal fighting erupted into the public eye in early October of 1896 over the policy of the party towards the issue. Walkemites declared their desire to fight for rightful Cascadian land while Ferrites found themselves sympathetic towards the Liberal ideal of negotiations.

6c798d95ef77e853061b7ea20af2313d.jpg

The first page of "The Miner's Song"; C. 1896.
This entire issue came to a head on the 19th of November, when "The Miner's Song", a pro-colonisation song depicting the hardships of a Cascadian miner in the Klondike, took to the national consciousness. The place of the Right Honourable Dr. McInnes was a danger to Cascadian sovereignty and an upfront to Cascadian national pride, seeing that the Yukon was a Cascadian territory. While McInnes tried desperately to shore his image, the Liberals gave an ultimatum to the National Democrats. Begin negotiations with the Canadian Government over the Yukon or find the Liberal Coalition at an end. McInnes, believing this to be a bluff and not wanting to look like he actually was selling Cascadia to Canada, refused.
On the 14th of December, the Honourable Carter-Cotton, MP, announced in Parliament that due to inconsolable differences between the parties, the Liberal Coalition was hereby dissolved. Seizing on the opportunity, Davie petitioned Governor-General Carrington to allow early elections, believing that he could gain a majority. With no other choice, Carrington dissolved government and declared general elections to be held in 61 days in the future on February 13th. Prime Minister McInnes, totally unprepared, found himself in the midst of a general election he had not prepared for.

220px-Thomas_Robert_McInnes.png

Prime Minister Thomas R. McInnes, 6th Prime Minister of Cascadia
 
Last edited:
I do love a good political crisis to read about. Keep it coming, Dadar.
 
Woooo Cascadia hype!!!
 
Chapter Eighteen: What would you do for a Klondike bar?

1st of February, 1896:

The fallout of the failure of the Liberal Coalition would leave Governor-General Carrington in a position he did not want to be in, one shared by the majority of his predecessors as Governor-General of the expansive yet irksome dominion. New elections were called due to the jingoist feelings within the public over the Yukon, which combined with political opportunism by the Liberals left national politics bitter. The days of the Railroad Debate were past, and those times thought forgotten during the ebb of the Berger Ministry. The majority of voters were old enough to remember the botched revolution that was attempted just twelve years past, and braced themselves for a fiery election, the Right Honourable Carrington included.

They would be right in this, as the political attacks were numerous and consistent during the entire period. While the Prime Minister attempted to solidify his bases in Victoria and Vancouver, his compatriots in the Liberals followed him with dogged determination, often hosting large open-air speeches outside of the Prime Minister's receptions. this would result in a sort of tit for tat tour of the most English parts of the nation, as the National Democrats tried to dine the higher portions of society while the Liberals outside tried to rouse the working man in a patriotic fervour. However, in the egotism that was dominant in the fight between the National Democrats and the Liberals, they forgot about the hard working Tories. Theodore Davie, ever dedicated to his country, would push himself to incredible lengths in order to reach out beyond the narrow confines of the Victoria-Vancouver hub, and reach out to what many would call the average Cascadian.

For, by late 1896, the average Cascadian was no longer a Englishman from Vancouver or a Yankee from Portland, he could be a Pole from Fort Saint John, a Ukrainian from Victoria, or an Armenian from Walla Walla. The nation was a rainbow of nations, perhaps arisen from the real lack of nationalistic fervour that haunted much of the Old World. One could wear a fez, or ledenhosen, or a kilt and still be Cascadian. Indeed, a true Cascadian is all of things and above that, he is a man who wants the Yukon without unneeded interruptions due to faulty coalitions.
This was the rather wise tactic taken by Davie, as he would be like a whirlwind across the nation, using both his very limited time and his very limited energy to the most by creating a custom box car in which he could speak from, without ever leaving the confines of the train.

f4afc356755433b210162381d079ddd0.jpg

Typical Cascadians in Seattle; C. 1896.
While issues like the state of the First Nations and the continued presence of American industry in Cascadia had a peripheral interest to the electorate, they were truly focused on the twin subjects of the Yukon and military preparedness. The former was not that interesting, as all parties sought to proven themselves as the only option for the Yukon and openly advocated it's annexation in various degrees of aggressiveness. The later however was much more interesting, as the anti-military roots of the New Democrats and the pro-military nature of the Conservative showed in the months of debating. One specific scandal, which resulted in outcry, was that a National Democrat Member of Parliament was recorded by the press openly dismissing the idea of war with Canada over the Yukon, saying that there was 'no profit in dirtying our hands on behalf of grubby mountain men'. This would look terrible on McInnes, who was a rather nervous character as described by his colleagues.
On the 30th of January, the men went to the polls in what was slowly becoming an honoured tradition. Some two point two million men voted, their ballots counted around the country. It was nerve-wracking to all involved, as the political futures of all the leaders were in question. Davie in what was his eleventh year at the head of the party, the untested McInnes, and the drab, academic Carter-Cotton.

The newspapers rolled out an amazing story on the 1st, one that had Carrington mumble to himself bitterly. "LIBERALS VOTE SPLIT FARTHER, TORIES TAKE CHARGE!" The electorate, weary of the infighting of the Liberals and the National Democrat, chose to vote Conservative as diehard supporters of each party made it impossible for one or the other to the seats. More liberal leaning papers were less friendly "LIBERAL PARTIES WIN THE VOTE, TORIES WIN THE ELECTION!" Which was true, as the vote splitting had allowed the first past the post system to allow what was only the second place Conservatives (behind the Liberals themselves but ahead of the National Democrats) to take charge of the nation.

For better or worse, jingo had it. The Conservatives achieved 41 seats out of 80, leaving the remaining 39 split between the Liberals (24) and the National Democrats (15). This would give Davie the majority he needed and would allow him to be appointed Prime Minister within the fortnight for the second time, and the Yukon Question would quickly cease to be a question any longer.

136-4.gif

Prime Minister Theodore Davie, 4th and 7th Prime Minister of Cascadia
 
Last edited:
Chapter Nineteen: A Matter of Moments

12th of May, 1899:

With the fall of the Liberal Coalition and then the rise of a Tory majority, it seemed that fate would have it's way with the picturesque mountains which dominated the Yukon. While miners and prospectors of Cascadian origin smiled wide and toasted heartily to the success of Her Majesty's best dominion, the Canadians and (what few) Americans were apprehensive and quiet. They feared that the spawn of anarchy which was the Yukon would come to an end, and a rather brutal one at that. Gripping their cups tightly, these folk did not have long to wait. Similarly, the two losing parties of Cascadia gripped their collective cups, waiting for the result of the election. However they were not quiet the entire time, as the twin leaders of the liberal parties were both quietly sacked. Carter-Cotton of the Liberals (who went back to his newspaper business) would be replaced by
well off shipbuilder Robert Moran from Seattle, while the National Democrats sent Dr. McInnes unceremoniously back to his practice and replacing him with the up and coming businessman William Templeton from Vancouver.

220px-William_Templeton%2C_Mayor_of_Vancouver.jpg
220px-Robert_Moran_portrait_1903.jpg

William Templeton (L) and Robert Moran (R), the newest party leaders in Cascadia

The Davie Administration, the second such ministry in Cascadia and it's first two time Prime Minister, would get to quick work bring about what Davie deemed 'civilisation' to the wastebin which was Whitehorse. Some 9,000 dragoons, the large single such unit formed since the establishment of Dominionhood, rode into Whitehorse and quickly established themselves and the foremost purveyor of justice and law in the land. The Canadians understandably took great umbrage to this, and began to organise the Northwest Mounted Police across the mountain in Winnipeg in order to confront the units that dared defy the rightful government in Ottawa.

This would rise to a boiling point, as British ambassadors crossed the Rockies repeatedly in an effort to stem the tide of colonial conflict. Bribes, threats, and devious mixtures of the two were presented to both the Cascadian and the Canadian governments by Governor-Generals and special plenipotentiaries in vain. As Governor-General Carrington would write in his diary in May of 1896 "It seems these silly colonials, so enticed by the cold and the gold that resides within and beyond those damnedable mountains, are dedicated to bring upon Her Majesty a most frightening experience, as Englishmen turn upon Englishmen for the first time since Cromwell. This certainly cannot stand."

rcmp1897b1.jpg

Members of the NWMP in Winnipeg; C. 1896/97.

But it did. No matter the anxiety arising from the Crown or the bitterness from Her dutiful government, the Rockies seemed on course for a single noun. War. It would reach a tipping point when Parisian newspapers broke the story in September of 1896, causing a crisis in Europe. The idea that two dominions, theoretically barely autonomous branches of the English government in Westminster would take it upon themselves to fight each other for some bourgeoisie ideal of mineral wealth entertained the wealth and industrial poor alike. The can-do spirit of the Cascadians, which was much smaller than their Canadian neighbours, would win much sympathy among the peoples of Europe.

This is when Benjamin Edwards was murdered. A miner from Hamilton, he left his poor home in order to find gold in those yonder mountains. However, when he got there, he became entranced by cheap alcohol and cheaper women, becoming a drunkard and a bum. When the Cascadian Dragoons came into town, Edwards took little notice. However when a shipment of whisky was delayed (in part to it's Torontonian origin), Edwards attempted to 'liberate' the merchandise for himself, where he was promptly shot by a greenhorn. While no saint, the man was a Canadian citizen, born and raised, and his family in Hamilton caused a tremendous search of energy and motion within Ottawa. Prime Minister Charles Tupper would motivate the Anglos into a frenzy, although the Francophones under Wilfred Laurier remained deeply skeptical over what was entirely an Anglo issue.

The Edwards' Scandal would be further inflamed when the United States government, entirely of it's own volition, stated that the Cascadian dragoons were well within their rights to shoot a looter, and that Canada's right to the Yukon was forfeit. This brought about international scandal, as the United Kingdom seemed to many to be falling and collapsing from within. The crisis would take the instruments of diplomacy out of the hands of the Cascadians and Canadians, and would be utilised entirely by the USA and the British Empire. Davie could only watch in horror as his administration and Cascadia as a whole was slandered as nothing but an American puppet.

War with not only Canada, but Great Britain seemed almost guaranteed when the American government proceeded to give the Cascadian government (again without prompting) military access to their roads and ports, theoretically threatening the Canadian strongholds in the East. Diplomacy between the USA and the UK began to breakdown within this crisis, until a miracle happened. The Germans, seizing upon the opportunity, invaded Zanzibar, a British Protectorate. This left the British reeling as they were suddenly assaulted on two fronts. The government had two choices, fight both, or give in to one.

To which, the Canadian Prime Minister was called to London. Falling a short talk which some say forced the Canadian Prime Minister near to tears, it was decided. The Yukon was Cascadian and Tupper resigned in protest. The object of all Cascadian desires achieved without firing a shot. Although the crisis was quite (most possibly literally) seconds from breaking out into war, peace in our time was achieved. Davie was hailed as a hero, and the Cascadian Dragoons marched proudly through Whitehorse in a state sponsered parade.

The only question is, now that the object of singular desire was achieve, what is next?
 
Last edited:
My lord it's back
 
I saw an update dated 12th May at the top of the page and decided this must've been back for a few weeks and I just hadn't noticed. Then I saw it was 12th May 2015 and I realised just how long it had been.

And how good it is to have Cascadia back up and fighting for gold. :)
 
I saw an update dated 12th May at the top of the page and decided this must've been back for a few weeks and I just hadn't noticed. Then I saw it was 12th May 2015 and I realised just how long it had been.

And how good it is to have Cascadia back up and fighting for gold. :)

Oh jeez, I thought my last update was 2016, not 2015.

Whoops.
 
Chapter Twenty: A Cascadian Century

3rd of August, 1900:

The victory over the Canadians within the Yukon brought wealth, prestige, and success to Davie and all of Cascadia. Unintentionally helped by the German Empire, the Cascadian Government was awash with relief at their success. Soon, gold from the Yukon poured into coffers of the Treasury, immigrants flooded in like never before, and it seemed to many that the Cascadian dream of prosperity within and beyond the Rockies was no longer a dream. Immigrants from places as far off as Congress Poland and Serbia arrived speaking of rumors that swirled regarding Victoria's streets being paved with gold. Never before in Cascadian history had such a wealth of humanity flowed into their borders. It would have made the late Prime Minister Walkem very proud.

It was within this climate that Theodore Davie, Prime Minister of Cascadia, suffered an immense heart attack within his home and past away. The nation was awash with grief, as it seemed that one of the greatest leaders of Cascadia was struck down at the height of his success, having just established Cascadian supremacy of the northern Rockies. Alas, it was in this sad times that the election of 1900 was called, much to the chagrin of the opposition. While the nation pined for Prime Minister Davie, the Tories engaged in a rapid and necessary convention.

The convention was chaotic, insofar as there was no designated heir to Davie, and therefore no forerunner in the race. Nearly a dozen members entered the race, from military men to men of industry. However, in the ballots, it was shown that the young orator from New Westminster, native born Richard McBride. A proud Cascadian, he won on a message of making this century "a Cascadian endeavor, fueled by Cascadian goods, and producing Cascadian jobs forevermore." This such a positive and resolute outlook, it was utterly unsurprising that the man, at the tender age of thirty, would head the Conservatives in the upcoming election.

The election began at the onset with the perception that the Conservatives were ahead. Templeton and Moran, in an effort to appear different from one another and break the era of good feelings surrounding the Tories, attacked low targets and often infought one another instead of focusing on the Tories. McBride often got to set the lead during electoral debates, as Templeton and Moran tried desperately to stay relevant.

220px-William_Templeton%2C_Mayor_of_Vancouver.jpg
220px-Robert_Moran_portrait_1903.jpg
mcbride_richard.jpg

William Templeton of the Nat-Dems (L), Robert Moran of the Libs (C), and Richard McBride of the Tories (R)

Unfortunately for the pair of liberal parties, it would not to be. The populace, caught up with the loss of Davie and the victory in the Yukon, overwhelmingly gave the vote to the Tories. Only a few holdouts in urban Seattle, Vancouver, Victoria, and Portland did not fall to the Conservatives as they attained what was a super-majority. The remnants of the other parties were eliminated, cementing for the time being the tri-party system currently in place in the nation. In a massive sign of irony (given the misgivings of the liberals to one another), the two opposition parties were essentially thrust into a far corner of parliament, as members of the government flooded into what was historically called the Opposition's side due to a lack of space for new government seats on the government side.

This truly immense victory left the Tories with a seemingly unlimited mandate. Constitutional changes, foundational and institutional changes to the functions of state and society, all were within the reach of the Government. All the while the liberals face a crisis of identity and the minor parties start to fall away like so many leaves. Now the future of the nation rested in the unknown hands of a beloved, if young and untested, speaker. The soon to be tried Richard McBride. For if he had his way, the 20th century would truly be the Cascadian century.

mcbride_richard.jpg

Richard McBride, 8th Prime Minister of Cascadia
 
Last edited:
my life is complete this AAR is alive!

IT'S ALIVE!!!
 
That is some hiatus... But hey, who cares, always good to see an excellent AAR and an excellent authAAR return!
 
That is some hiatus... But hey, who cares, always good to see an excellent AAR and an excellent authAAR return!

I'll be honest, I was certain you were going to be knocking me for necromancy. I had my masters, so I got a little busy irl.

Glad to have you as a reader.
 
To which, the Canadian Prime Minister was called to London. Falling a short talk which some say forced the Canadian Prime Minister near to tears, it was decided. The Yukon was Canadian, and Tupper resigned in protest. The object of all Cascadian desires achieved without firing a shot. Although the crisis was quite (most possibly literally) seconds from breaking out into war, peace in our time was achieved. Davie was hailed as a hero, and the Cascadian Dragoons marched proudly through Whitehorse in a state sponsered parade.

The only question is, now that the object of singular desire was achieve, what is next?

I think you mistyped there in the bolded piece. It should say Cascadian, shouldn't it?

And I can't very well slap you on the wrist for necroing your own AAR now, can I? ;) Keep it up.

I also noticed in the last update you wrote emigrants, but emigrants is what those people that moved from Poland to Cascadia would be called in Poland, in Cascadia they're immigrants.
 
I think you mistyped there in the bolded piece. It should say Cascadian, shouldn't it?

And I can't very well slap you on the wrist for necroing your own AAR now, can I? ;) Keep it up.

I also noticed in the last update you wrote emigrants, but emigrants is what those people that moved from Poland to Cascadia would be called in Poland, in Cascadia they're immigrants.

Fixed