Gentlemen of the Convention.
I arrived mere hours ago and have already been declared repulsive, authoritarian and a threat to the stability of California. I have not been allowed to make my voice heard before these accusations were levelled towards me and my fellow partners of the California Imperial Party. I came here with the belief that though my ideas and my beliefs may be considered reactionary or too conservative for some of the more liberal gentlemen here, I could not have expected this barrage of anger directed towards me. You would accuse me of sponsoring authoritarianism, as Santa Anna or the Second Mexican Empire. You have declared me to in support of an absolute monarchy, that I would restrict free speech or crush the democratic tradition of California. Yet there is not a grain of truth within these statements.
Gentlemen of the Convention, listen well, I beg of you. I have served this nation all my life. Today, I speak for its citizens and I tend to its wounded, just as my family has brought it wealth throughout the years. I share this duty with thousands upon thousands of other Californians, though my beliefs may be foreign my heart is Californian, just as well as yours are. I can promise you right here, right now, that I have no desire for an absolutist monarchy or dictatorship. I sponsor the right to free speech, despite the fact that some of the gentlemen here appear to think differently, judging by the proposal to expel me and my party from the convention for expressing ideas that you would disagree with. I believe in democracy with all of my heart and my mind. I urge you to look to the British. A constitutional monarchy that accepts the influence of the people, embraces it, yet acknowledges the need for a head of state that remains, inspires stability and patriotism. It is this government that I wish for the beautiful nation that I love so dearly. A democratic, constitutional monarchy, lead by a gentle, guiding hand. I shall repeat myself once more, to ensure that every member of this convention hears me, and understands. I support democracy. I stand firmly against absolutism and if there was even the slightest need, I would die with sword in hand to protect my democracy. A King does not prevent a democracy. Indeed, this convention should note well that it is the republics that create dictators, not the monarchies. No dictator rules in Britain, or Sweden, or Denmark.
I shall note only one final thing. Beyond the ideological disgust I harbour for the notion of dismissing free speech as something that may be circumvented at will, it is not only despicable and a disgrace to God, who gave us our speech to use for good, but it is also a great danger to our democracy. Perhaps we, the few monarchists here, are easy to target, as few will come to our defines. We are weak, we are but newcomers to the political scene of California, and for now we appear to be prey. Yet should this motion pass, what is stopping the convention from banning other parties? What barriers remain until there is but a single party, dominating the politics of this nation while suppressing their opponents? My friends, you fear absolutism, yet you are taking the first steps towards it. The man who fears heresy does not embrace it. The man who wishes to live does not touch the face of the leper. You may hate me. You may hate me my friends, my partners, my fellow monarchists. You may wish to see us burn, or lose our heads. I plead to you now, let us not resort to violence or force. Let us not resort to oppression to silence those whom you do not agree with. Whether you hate me or not, this is certainly not the way.
I shall therefore, vote Nay on the motion to expel the monarchists, and I urge every man here who respects democracy to do the same. Thank you for your time gentlemen, let us now divert our time to more pleasant topics.
- Doctor César Antonio Castañón