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The Marquis de Pontevedra, after receiving the letter from the Bilbao shipyard, immediately sets aside funds for its expansion; similarly, a railway to connect it to vital resources across Spain and the empire is quickly planned. He further sends a request before the War Council to transfer some of the naval expansion projects to the shipyard in the form of a rather generous contract ((more or less, subsidies)). He lastly prepares to set aside some administrators to ensure the shipyard is properly staffed to ensure its projects are finished in a timely manner ((if necessary, encourage workers in the Basque Country)).
 
Etxeto-arms.gif

Coat of Arms of the Etxeto
Dear Peer, the Marquis de Pontevedra,

I thanketh thee for thine recent and heavy investment in mine fief. Such dedication to the enrichment of the Basquelands doth make my heart scurry with delight.

Well wishes,

Marquis d'Etxeto

 
An Empire of Steel

As the second industrial revolution continues to drive industrialization to new heights across the world, urban expansion is needed to help increase the influx of people moving into the cities for work in factories. The basic solution for this problem is simply to "expand out" by increasing the perimeters of major cities across the world. The only problem with that is there is only so much space for people to occupy. Up until the 1880s, this was the only option. Then came the adaption of a newly mass-produced resource, a metal that is stronger then iron that can now be cheaply produced and bought, steel.

Steel is a mixture of pig-iron and carbon. Liquid iron is blasted with large quantities of oxygen to remove impurities such as excess carbon. Afterwords, the new metal is cooled, and comes out of the factory as steel. Steel is stronger than iron, and this quality makes steel the optimal building material. Now that steel is readily available, a new option is presented to big cities in terms for making new room for civilians, "expand up". With mass-uses of steel in construction, skyscrapers are now becoming a common building in big cities. These towering structures are used as apartments for new residence, space for businesses to coordinate without taking up large spaces, or both.

No other country on Earth produces more steel than the United States. The large quantities of coal, iron, and other alloys in the US makes it an optimal place for the production of steel. Its largest steel-producing city is Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, a city built on three rivers allowing easy transportation of goods needed to produce steel. One man has taken advantage of Pittsburgh's location and established a steel empire, Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie is considered one of the world's wealthiest individuals, and his living is all based around the steel empire he owns. Most steel used in the world is produced by Carnegie plants. Now that steel is finding its way into more then just buildings, Carnegie's wealth is expected to skyrocket.

Spain's story with steel is a bit different. Most of the iron it mines comes from the southern Philippines and the Pyrenees, and few large-factories are around to turn that iron into steel. Because of that, Spain needs to import most of its steel from other countries. While the US and Spain's relations are indeed very sour, Spain and the US do trade goods with each other. One of the largest exports to Spain from the US is steel. In-fact, many of the railroads and new buildings being built in Spain are made from Carnegie steel.
 
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((Private))

Simon Mercado privately bribes iron dealer in Southern Philippines to stop dealing their iron to Spain and instead to him.
 
There have, provoked by exorbitant tariffs, been precipitous price rises in all manner of items, as detailed to me by my steward. *The Duke brandishes a piece of paper* I could read it aloud, but I am sure the Marquis is as familiar with the circumstances as any of us. Perhaps more detrimental, however, is that the increase in prices has left workers, farmhands and all manner of riff-raff expecting a pay rise to compensate. In short gentlemen, the good Marquis is requesting us to foot the bill of his tax cuts on the lower strata of society. He expects us to tolerate this as an ‘inconvenience’?

He speaks of Spain's power, and the wealth expected to flow from the east. It may or may not need stating - I myself am not a military man, far less a navy man - but Spain does not possess anything that could plausibly be defined as a fleet in the modern sense. How is this situation expected to unfold in our favour under such circumstances. Indeed, it is something of a miracle that my son - skilled though he may be - was able to masterfully execute an invasion of the Chinese mainland supported by little more than a ramshackle collection of boats scraped together in the Philippine colony. If such a navy as our nation needs is to be created, how is it to be maintained? A re-raising of taxes on the lowers? On us?

Leaving our economic condition aside for a time, the Marquis provokes deep concern in his pathological censorship of opinion that deviates from his own. Not two weeks ago a perfectly law abiding local issue had their presses seized and license revoked. Now, this was not some rag espousing liberty or social ‘progress’, but a true champion of His Majesty’s power and God’s order. It’s only crime was to purvey a view that differed from the honourable Marquis. Who is to be censured next gentlemen? This chamber? Are our rightly held concerns and grievances to be condemned as an irrelevance?
 
((Private))

After a hard day at the office, or rather an afternoon of dishing out plenty of "donations" to floundering businesses for their support for Los Amarillos in the upcoming election, Fernando Armando Hernando Rolando Fernández made his way across town to pick up his "date" for the ball. No matter that his date would be paid to attend this ball and provide other various services afterwords. That was just another perk of being fabulously wealthy; you could afford the finer things in life, including fine women.

Fernando's carriage pulled up outside a tavern, one that was close enough to downtown Madrid to draw in patrons without being too noticeable. When you planned to buy something more scandalous than liquor you usually wanted to remain inconspicuous. That didn't stop Fernando from entering the building with full pomp, dressed splendidly in his suit and sporting a gilded cane. A few scantily clad ladies eyed him up as he entered, even as they were already busy entertaining gentlemen. Fernando paid them no mind and headed straight to the bar, where he slapped his cane down on its surface and said to the bartender, "I wish to speak to your proprietor. I have need of someone for a very special occasion."

The bartender motioned to a green curtain next to the bar leading to the backrooms. Fernando tipped his hat to the man and took up his cane, using it to push the curtain aside. He walked down a dimly lit corridor, sounds of pleasure murmuring from the rooms he passed by. At the end he came upon a heavy wooden door with an emerald emblazoned on it and knocked with his cane.

"Enter," an aged but sultry voice said from within the room. Fernando pushed the door aside, entering the proprietor's office. A wide array of candles lit the room, and the scent of incense filled the air. The walls were lined with tapestries and paintings, much too fancy for anything other than a palatial estate. A mahogany desk was placed right near the centre of the room, the elderly proprietor sitting behind it. She motioned for Fernando to take a seat in the cushioned armchair near the desk.

As Fernando took a seat, he said, "Esmeralda, I did not expect to see you here. I'm surprised the Emerald of Elche would leave her favourite city."

Esmeralda, now well into her sixties, smiled at that and reclined in her seat. Despite her age, her beauty had not diminished, but rather transformed. She was no longer the voluptuous beauty of her youth, but had the bearing of a refined woman who seemed to defy the greatest effects of age. Her hair remained just as luscious, although the deep black colour was almost assuredly from a bottle now. Her skin remained relatively smooth and blemish-free, although on closer inspection one might notice that the lack of wrinkles may be attributed to a generous application of makeup. There was still a charm about her, and no one could doubt that she could still entice men if she chose to. A tragedy that she had retired from her old profession to manage her growing empire of brothels.

"I felt it best to stay in Madrid for a time, seeing as His Majesty has decided to hold a ball," Esmeralda said. "While I am far too old to attend such events these days, there are always gentlemen such as yourself seeking a young escort to such events." Esmeralda tilted her head slight, a sly smirk on her face. "I assume that is why you're here, Fernando."

"Of course, my dear," Fernando said with a jovial laugh. "I have need of a special woman for this occasion, someone as comfortable in the ballroom as the bedroom, who can charm courtiers and keep up with court gossip. Perhaps an exotic beauty, to fit with the theme of the ball."

Esmeralda tapped her fingers on the desk for a moment before she smiled and rose from her seat. "I have just the girl in mind for you." She rang a little bell on her desk, and soon a young woman poked her head in the door. "Would you please fetch Mayumi for me."

The young woman was gone in an instant and Fernando's interest was piqued. "Mayumi?"

Esmeralda sat back down and crossed her legs. "Daughter of a Spanish merchant and a Filipino woman that caught his fancy. The mother travelled all the way to Spain seeking the father of her child, only for him to cast them out. Tragic story, but such is the case with most women here. I do my best to provide them with a place they can feel safe and comfortable."

Fernando wasn't interested in sob stories, wanting to get to the most important details. "Does this half-breed know anything about court etiquette? Does she even look somewhat decent."

Esmeralda turned her nose up at that comment and said, "I personally trained this 'half-breed' myself. She knows exactly how to behave at court and has attended many social events involving the upper class. I assure you she will not cause embarrassment, if that is your concern. As for her appearance, I believe you may be more than surprised."

The door opened then and a petite young woman walked in. She walked in with dignity and grace, her head held high but with a look of sincere respect on her face as she looked to her mentor. Her black hair was done up in a bun, fully revealing her slim face. Her features were soft, not too plump but not overly thin either, accentuated by her smooth light brown skin. Her dark brown eyes held a level of intelligence unexpected for a woman of her station. When she looked over at Fernando, she offered a smile of genuine kindness and gave a polite bow. Better yet, she had the right mix of exotic beauty and noble poise that would fit right in at the ball. Yes, this woman would do quite nicely.

"I believe she is exactly what I need."

Esmeralda let a thin smile spread across her face. "Excellent." Turning to Mayumi, she added, "Mr. Fernández here needs an escort to the royal ball. It seems you have been chosen for this job."

Mayumi immediately turned to Fernando and bowed her head. "I am most honoured you would allow me to escort you to such a prestigious event."

"I presume you will be supplying her with an outfit," Esmeralda said. "I do have some fine garments for my ladies, but I doubt I have anything befitting an Asian-themed royal ball."

"I shall provide her with a custom-tailored outfit, yes," Fernando said, his eyes never leaving Mayumi. She seemed unfazed by his stare, politely accepting it.

"Very well then," Esmeralda said, rising from her seat. "Let us make the final arrangements before you leave for the ball."

* * * * *

((Public))

Fernando and his escort Mayumi arrived at the ball after it had already begun, but being fashionably late was always in style. Fernando wore a traditional Chinese silk robe, and Mayumi a matching silk dress, although he had had the tailor make it slightly more tight-fitting and revealing than anything the Chinese would ever dare. The capitalist had also traded out his usual cane for one where the curved top resembled the head of a dragon, with ruby-studded eyes for added effect. What stood out most about the couple's garments were the colours, for while traditional Chinese garb was usually quite colourful, the robe and dress worn by the two were completely black and white. This was done to match their masks, shaped to resemble that of a panda bear, a popular Chinese animal. Fernando's mask was noticeably larger, while Mayumi's seemed to have a feminine touch to it. The couple joined the guests, arm in arm, enjoying the splendour of the palace.
 
Election of 1885

From the beginning of the 1885 election, Spain's voting population were expecting a massive show. They expected knock out brawls between the candidates, and debates that would question aspects of the parties. What they got was a tangled mess of an election, an election where one side's campaign strategy was simply to restrict the other's side ability to express their opinion, another side's strategy was to wait on the sidelines and hope for the best, and the rest just went along using party members to do the campaigning for them. It would be a rather dull election for the most part, with little activity on all sides in regards to campaigning for certain points. Those who did campaign were usually staunch in their quest for certain abilities. General Manuel 'Lolo''s father was one of these men. He talked in the State Council against the Royalist's bias towards the poorer aspects of Spain. He claimed that the poor were getting cutbacks and benefits while the nobles, those who held up the cornerstone of the monarchy, where getting shafted by the Royalists. Lolo Sr. also argued that the recent tax cuts and increases in tariffs were increasing the price level of items across the nation, saying that Spain was experiencing dangerous levels of inflation, and critiqued the Royalist party for its naval project, something that he felt would require tax increases to maintain, which he used to make the accusation that, due to the nature of the Royalists, would be raised on the rich. While many aristocrats sympathized with Lolo Sr., middle and poor class citizens were not really impressed by the elder Lolo's call to give more benefits to the rich and to stop giving benefits to the poorer citizens. The Marquis of Ponteverda also made statements saying that his tariffs and tax-cuts were responsible for the economic boom Spain was experiencing.

The biggest debate though during the election was the concept of an unbiased press. In the middle of the election, the monarch received a petition from a collective of journalists expressing their concern that the government was abusing the censorship bureau by silencing critics of the Royalist party, and even going as far as to silence supporters of the other parties. They expressed concerns that if the censorship bureau was like this, people would distrust the papers, and it may hurt the government in the long run. The Marquis of Ponteverda, the head of the Censorship Bureau, responded harshly by saying that his work was "Keeping the newsman honest", and preventing any sort of conduct or bias that would dare hurt the nation. With these comments, Ponteverda also began to heavily censor the journalists that signed the petition, outright banning them sometimes. He even went as far as to process legal charges against some of the more "radical" journalists on the petition. Those who were not censored or banned showed a shift in ideology more to the right. Papers that use to be, for example, pro People's Party, started ranting on about the People's Party detrimental stance towards agents of the crown, or Los Amarillos papers that started complaining that the Yellows were shafting the poor for the benefit of rich cronies. These papers were not really censored, yet their credibility was shot. Many of these papers experienced a significant drop in sales as people lost faith in the papers to report non-influenced opinions. Some Arch-Conservatives said the actions of Ponteverda were justified, since the government must make sure the papers are for the good of the state and not for private agendas. Manuel 'Lolo''s father spoke out against this in the State Counci, and asked that the press not be silenced for fear of unpopular opinions.

As the season progressed, one party was notably (compared to the others) absent from the election campaigns, the Movimiento. The Movimiento's leader, the Duke of Seville was not seen in quite some time, and even he was not present during many Movimiento campaigns. This distrust in leadership led to factions forming in the Movimiento. There were social-liberals, who wished to side with the People's Party, socialist-oriented members who agreed with the ideas of the Autonomous Party, and liberals, who found their calling among the liberal economists in Los Amarilloes. By the end of the campaign, the Movimiento was all but defunct, with many of its members moving to the party their faction chose. The party of Aldecanta, the party of revolution and compromise, was gone. The opposition had lost one of its largest members. Now, the only real opposition (opposition as in not active in the government) came from certain groups in Los Amarillos and the People's Party. The People's Party, now being the major opposition party, was quiet this time around in the election. Most accredit it to the fact that their leader, Francesco del Valle, was travelling out of the country. Other's say that now the Movimiento was gone, the People's Party was becoming more lenient in their rhetoric towards the Royalists, in fear that if they fall, no true opposition would remain to challenge the conservative-aligned Audience.

When the polls were tallied, the results appeared to be based around geographical location more then anything. In Castile-La Nueva, the Royalist Party had won a hefty majority, and won in places like Leon-Castile, Galicia, and Extramuerda. In the south, in Andalusia and Granada, it was the People's Party that won a majority in the region, taking the most seats from the region compared to the other parties. In the Basquelands and Aragon, Los Amarillos, or in this case the Etxeto Clique (the noble and socially conservative faction of Los Amarillos), won the most seats. In Catalonia and the Balearics, the Autonomist Party won the most seats, mostly accredited to the leadership of Cesc Roma. Valencia was a divided region. It was split between the Autonomists and the Lolo Clique (the more socially liberal faction of Los Amarillos). Both these parties won a decent amount of seats in the region, and were very close for a majority. In all the regions though, the Royalists and Los Amarillos usually ended up in second. Some have claimed that this was due to one party "making the results up, and the other buying them", but of course, these were just the rumors coming from men who were defeated.

In all, the results are as followed:

Royalists: 150 Seats
People's Party: 70 Seats
Autonomists: 50 Seats
Los Amarillos: 115 Seats
Socialists: 15 Seats


EsU30f5.png

The Royalists earned back twelve seats, mostly due to the "economic successes" the Royalists have had in the last term. The People's Party earned five seats for their media campaign, but failed to attract much more due to the absence of their leader from most of the campaign (though they did retain the seats they originally owned). Los Amarillos received 15 seats due to the increased support among the aristocracy that Lolo's father obtained. The Socialists earned thirteen seats due to broad support among the disenfranchised (women and native colonials) that pressured voters to vote for the Socialists. The biggest earners of the election though were the Autonomists. This was because many citizens felt that the mutualist policies implemented by Cesc Roma during his time as Minister of Commerce were a big reason the economy was doing so well.

Whoever the King would select to be in government, the issues facing Spain would be momentous. As the Spanish elections were happening, Portugal was having an election as well. Portuguese citizens turned up en-mass to vote in a heated election, and in the end, a conservative government would be elected. Many liberal supporters immedietly argued voting fraud, that the King himself ordered the vote to go to the conservatives. The new conservative government, headed by Prime Minister António de Serpa Pimentel, would, under orders by the King, implement new laws aimed at cracking down on liberal dissent, with Miguel II going as far as to even order the arrest of Liberal Leaders on the suspicion of treason. The people rose in defiance against these acts, claiming that Miguel II was taking orders from Spain, and there are even whispers that the Liberals were looking to support a pretender to the throne to split Portugal off from Spain. Miguel II affirmed to Spain that the situation was under control, even as Lisbon continued to be polluted by riots and protests, followed by military crackdowns. All that separates the current situation from armed revolt is a major incident that sparks rebellious sentiment against the crown.

Another situation was underway in the Philippines. In the southern Philippines, a group of Filipino miners were going on strike in defiance against their Spanish bosses. Some have claimed that a Philippine nationalist group was responsible for orchestrating the strike. Some say it was because the Filipinos on strike were predominantly Muslim, and were tired of the Spanish colonial government "treating non-Christians as dirt and persecuting them". The new government would have to deal with this colonial strike, and possibly deal with a Nationalist Movement that is slowly taking hold in the Philippines. So far though, all this National Movement has done was provoke a strike, but many feel that a major government crackdown on the island will sure as well be underway.

---------------------------------
Player Actions Needed: @Marschalk has two days to pick a government, else there will be consequences. The new government will then formulate a plan for the two situations described, and everyone is free to make bills.
 
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((Private))

After a hard day at the office, or rather an afternoon of dishing out plenty of "donations" to floundering businesses for their support for Los Amarillos in the upcoming election, Fernando Armando Hernando Rolando Fernández made his way across town to pick up his "date" for the ball. No matter that his date would be paid to attend this ball and provide other various services afterwords. That was just another perk of being fabulously wealthy; you could afford the finer things in life, including fine women.

Fernando's carriage pulled up outside a tavern, one that was close enough to downtown Madrid to draw in patrons without being too noticeable. When you planned to buy something more scandalous than liquor you usually wanted to remain inconspicuous. That didn't stop Fernando from entering the building with full pomp, dressed splendidly in his suit and sporting a gilded cane. A few scantily clad ladies eyed him up as he entered, even as they were already busy entertaining gentlemen. Fernando paid them no mind and headed straight to the bar, where he slapped his cane down on its surface and said to the bartender, "I wish to speak to your proprietor. I have need of someone for a very special occasion."

The bartender motioned to a green curtain next to the bar leading to the backrooms. Fernando tipped his hat to the man and took up his cane, using it to push the curtain aside. He walked down a dimly lit corridor, sounds of pleasure murmuring from the rooms he passed by. At the end he came upon a heavy wooden door with an emerald emblazoned on it and knocked with his cane.

"Enter," an aged but sultry voice said from within the room. Fernando pushed the door aside, entering the proprietor's office. A wide array of candles lit the room, and the scent of incense filled the air. The walls were lined with tapestries and paintings, much too fancy for anything other than a palatial estate. A mahogany desk was placed right near the centre of the room, the elderly proprietor sitting behind it. She motioned for Fernando to take a seat in the cushioned armchair near the desk.

As Fernando took a seat, he said, "Esmeralda, I did not expect to see you here. I'm surprised the Emerald of Elche would leave her favourite city."

Esmeralda, now well into her sixties, smiled at that and reclined in her seat. Despite her age, her beauty had not diminished, but rather transformed. She was no longer the voluptuous beauty of her youth, but had the bearing of a refined woman who seemed to defy the greatest effects of age. Her hair remained just as luscious, although the deep black colour was almost assuredly from a bottle now. Her skin remained relatively smooth and blemish-free, although on closer inspection one might notice that the lack of wrinkles may be attributed to a generous application of makeup. There was still a charm about her, and no one could doubt that she could still entice men if she chose to. A tragedy that she had retired from her old profession to manage her growing empire of brothels.

"I felt it best to stay in Madrid for a time, seeing as His Majesty has decided to hold a ball," Esmeralda said. "While I am far too old to attend such events these days, there are always gentlemen such as yourself seeking a young escort to such events." Esmeralda tilted her head slight, a sly smirk on her face. "I assume that is why you're here, Fernando."

"Of course, my dear," Fernando said with a jovial laugh. "I have need of a special woman for this occasion, someone as comfortable in the ballroom as the bedroom, who can charm courtiers and keep up with court gossip. Perhaps an exotic beauty, to fit with the theme of the ball."

Esmeralda tapped her fingers on the desk for a moment before she smiled and rose from her seat. "I have just the girl in mind for you." She rang a little bell on her desk, and soon a young woman poked her head in the door. "Would you please fetch Mayumi for me."

The young woman was gone in an instant and Fernando's interest was piqued. "Mayumi?"

Esmeralda sat back down and crossed her legs. "Daughter of a Spanish merchant and a Filipino woman that caught his fancy. The mother travelled all the way to Spain seeking the father of her child, only for him to cast them out. Tragic story, but such is the case with most women here. I do my best to provide them with a place they can feel safe and comfortable."

Fernando wasn't interested in sob stories, wanting to get to the most important details. "Does this half-breed know anything about court etiquette? Does she even look somewhat decent."

Esmeralda turned her nose up at that comment and said, "I personally trained this 'half-breed' myself. She knows exactly how to behave at court and has attended many social events involving the upper class. I assure you she will not cause embarrassment, if that is your concern. As for her appearance, I believe you may be more than surprised."

The door opened then and a petite young woman walked in. She walked in with dignity and grace, her head held high but with a look of sincere respect on her face as she looked to her mentor. Her black hair was done up in a bun, fully revealing her slim face. Her features were soft, not too plump but not overly thin either, accentuated by her smooth light brown skin. Her dark brown eyes held a level of intelligence unexpected for a woman of her station. When she looked over at Fernando, she offered a smile of genuine kindness and gave a polite bow. Better yet, she had the right mix of exotic beauty and noble poise that would fit right in at the ball. Yes, this woman would do quite nicely.

"I believe she is exactly what I need."

Esmeralda let a thin smile spread across her face. "Excellent." Turning to Mayumi, she added, "Mr. Fernández here needs an escort to the royal ball. It seems you have been chosen for this job."

Mayumi immediately turned to Fernando and bowed her head. "I am most honoured you would allow me to escort you to such a prestigious event."

"I presume you will be supplying her with an outfit," Esmeralda said. "I do have some fine garments for my ladies, but I doubt I have anything befitting an Asian-themed royal ball."

"I shall provide her with a custom-tailored outfit, yes," Fernando said, his eyes never leaving Mayumi. She seemed unfazed by his stare, politely accepting it.

"Very well then," Esmeralda said, rising from her seat. "Let us make the final arrangements before you leave for the ball."

* * * * *

((Public))

Fernando and his escort Mayumi arrived at the ball after it had already begun, but being fashionably late was always in style. Fernando wore a traditional Chinese silk robe, and Mayumi a matching silk dress, although he had had the tailor make it slightly more tight-fitting and revealing than anything the Chinese would ever dare. The capitalist had also traded out his usual cane for one where the curved top resembled the head of a dragon, with ruby-studded eyes for added effect. What stood out most about the couple's garments were the colours, for while traditional Chinese garb was usually quite colourful, the robe and dress worn by the two were completely black and white. This was done to match their masks, shaped to resemble that of a panda bear, a popular Chinese animal. Fernando's mask was noticeably larger, while Mayumi's seemed to have a feminine touch to it. The couple joined the guests, arm in arm, enjoying the splendour of the palace.

((Mayumi isn't quite a Filipino name :p ))
 
((So... time for me to get real I suppose...

So August is going to be a very busy month for me. Next week, I am going on vacation. Two days after I get back, I am getting all four of my wisdom teeth shucked, and a week after that, I head off to college. The problem I have with this month being such a busy month followed immediately by me going off to college is that I am not sure I will have the time needed to commit to this game. I am not saying that the game is ending or anything like that as of yet, I am just going to play it out by ear.

I am just saying this so that people dont get surprised when I do decide to write up an ending to the game because of college and me being busy :D))
 
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King's Health Questioned

His Majesty, King Felipe VI, has not been seen from or heard since the election results have been sent to him. Many aristocrats and nobles of the Spanish court are wondering where their King is. "The King's government is late in being established. If the King is suffering from health issues, we need to know about it!" said one nobleman. Many in the upper-class of Spanish society are questioning if the King is currently able to do his job. Until we receive further notice from the Royal Household, the future of Spain's next government is uncertain...

Further news, the strikes in the Philippines continue on, with the Muslim Filipinos and Christian Spanish Colonial Officials still trying to negotiate...

((Game is not dead yet, I intend to get as much out of it as possible before I go to college))
 
500px-coat_of_arms_of_spain-svg1.png


SPEECH FROM THE THRONE 1885
((Audience- Private))​


Good Assemblymen and State Councillors,

We today announce the new government of Spain. It woukd be buit along the lines of the proposed bureaucratic reform that would make the mechanism of the cabinet more effective - with a few exceptions. It is Our will that the officials heading the department for economic affairs and press relationships would have the personal ranks of State Secretaries and report Us as ti was before, equal to all other ministers. We have also decided that a wise division of powers between the ministers of Our Cabinet would be the best method to prevent possible conflict of interests and speculations regarding abuse of power.

At the same time We want to announce that any rebellious tendencies within the regions of Spain would not be tolerated and order all Our loyal servants to end the unpleasant events in Philippines using all methods prescribed by law.

We should always note that the imperial legacy of Spain should be preserved and expanded. The colonies of Sokoto and Morocco have existed in their current status for some time- but the analysis of their status leads Us to the thought that the full removal of their tribalist and pagan nature can be done only through full annexation and integration into the Spanish overseas empire/. It would be also of worth to move to colonization of the regions near our Nigerial holdings such as North Cameroon.

God be with you.

FELIPE


Cabinet 1885
President of the State Council and First Secretary of State : Sr. de Correia y de Medinaceli (Revan)

Second Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs: Marqués de Riojo (Dadarian)

Secretary for the Interior and the Treasury: Sr. de Correia y de Medinaceli (Revan)

Secretary of State for Grace and Justice: Fernando Armando Hernando Rolando Fernández ((Michaelangelo))

Secretary of State and Chief of the Depatrment of Economic Affairs: Duque de Menorca ((Firehound))

Secretary of State for War: Antonio Carlos de Zumalacárregui e Imaz (RR)

Secretary of State and Chief of the Department of Truth and Honesty: Duque de Infantado ((ML))

Secretary for Church Relationships. Educational and Cultural Affairs: the Archbishop of Toledo ((Luft))


 
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Prince-Duke Pedro thanks his Majesty for his new post in his council and asks if he is to retain all posts he has had before, aside from the capacity as Secretary to the State Council, or is this too retained?
 
La Samahan moves its leaders into the Filipine jungle to try and lower chance of authority figuring that they exist. As well, the company continues print propaganda in foreign ports and bribing and attempting to convince Islamic Imams to preach against the injustices of the Spanish colonial rule.

La Samahan Propaganda said:
"Fellow Filipinos,

Our people have been enslaved by Spain, raped like Lucretia by robbers who have taken our peoples prosperity, taken our people homes, and taken our wealth and sometime even our lives if we resist! Will we just let them, let them devastate us like they have devastated their economy, only to look here to see wealth and money thake they could easily take. Will we allow ourselves this fate? Or will we fight back against the thieves, kick them out of our homes, and rebuild. We can fight back against the Spaniards who care naught about us, but only about themselves and their wealth. We can defeat them, and we can cast them off and choose our path, not the path of the rich bastards who feast using our wealth, while we starve, along with our children. They have enslaved our forefathers, and tortured them for their faith, shall we let them do the same to us? Shall be let them? Or will fight forge our own path of freedom and tolerence, whether Muslim, whose religion has been harrassed by the Inquistitors of the Peninsulares, or the Christian, who wish for their preachers to not be an outsider, a Spaniard, but a Filipino. We both have been harasse dand we can both fight back together, as friends and allies against Imperial forces. We can fight back, but only with your help. Are you up to the challenge?"
 
With his new position as Secretary of State for Grace and Justice, Fernando Armando Hernando Rolando Fernández starts appointing judges more sympathetic to Los Amarillos, seeing many of their members and associates receiving lesser sentences or getting off entirely. He ensures that such leniency does not extend to liberals and socialists, and that royalists still receive similar preferential treatment as under the previous secretary.
 
The First Secretary, quite familiar with the Judiciary, as he had run it for many years, uses his more senior position to oppose such moves and appointments, instead favouring ardent Royalists and Pontevedran allies. The Marquis is, unlike the new Secretary, unremittingly opposed to benefiting any party other than the Royalists, in particular one that has in the past had factions closely aligned with the People's Party.

The Marquis further continues to expand the crackdown on Filipino Muslims and other revolutionary elements in Spain's Oriental colony, hoping to use the reformed and better equipped colonial administration to far greater effect than before.
 
Annoyed that his duties were being interfered with, Fernando Armando Hernando Rolando Fernández pushed forward to appoint judges who were mostly nonpartisan, unconnected to any political party, but associated with the upper class and thus favourable to nobles, capitalists, and other rich members of society.
 
Pontevedra conceded on *some* of those appointments, though continued to push for more Royalists.
 
Fernando casually blocked anyone associated with the Royalists from obtaining any new positions as judges, but didn't touch those already holding their positions.