Chapter 7: Quelle heurre est'il? (1848-1849)
A social conscience for everybody!
It's February of 1848, and Spring is still a month or two away. But that doesn't stop president Fallon from running the country smoothly. There has been a surplus of cotton picked in the country, and it has been offered towards stockpiling for worse days. Congress instead decides to get a better standing abroad, and it is sent as a gift to Savoy.
It's not much but it appeases their government tremendously.
In the home country of Burgundy, things aren't running as smoothly. Over in Flanders, there has been some sort of revolution, with new sounds engulfing the entire world.
Anarcho-Liberals, they might soon take over the world. Or not. I don't know.
After we won our limited war against Venice, it seems to have gone downhill for them all the way since then. Bohemia finally sued for peace, and Venice is left with only it's core province of Venice. The rest of the land has been divided amongst Bohemian's Rhapsodies... I mean allies.
The harsh reality of war, there are no real winners.
Apparently, we discriminate in our schools.
In August another discovery is made. Sadly it was already known across the world so we don't get the benefit we deserved. But it is still an insight to what the future holds.
Hegelian Idealism.
While President Alphonse Fallon is gearing up towards the upcoming elections, Congress is in turmoil. We do not seem to be loved around the world and this must be the 5th time within the past few years that we have to deal with barbarians and downright backwards people. Outrage is heard throughout the Houses, and action should be taken.
"Where on Earth is Jaisalmer anyway?" President Fallon, not the best in geography.
Discoveries, Upper Houses and Elections, oh my!
The Liberals still rise in the Upper House and the effect of the Anarcho-Liberals is not yet greatly felt here.
The election this year sees a new-comer to the stage of politics. The Parti Radicale was founded in the wake of the Anarcho-Liberal revolution in Burgundy, which rippled to it's former colony fast. For the Parti Radicale, John Stavreau is running to become the new President. The other three parties have chosen to select the same men as last election to run; Marc du Cavalier for the Parti Patriote, and Jean Beaucomp for the Parti de la Nation. Alphonse Fallon will be running for the Parti Conservateur, as is customary for a first term incumbent President to do, it usually means great results.
Having dominated politics since the split from Burgundy, the Parti Conservateur is keen on keeping this status quo, but Stavreau's Radicals are steaming towards success.
The debates start rather dull with religion, but then economy takes over.
The economy will be a very important factor this election. The Conservatives have over the past few years gained great success with their protectionism policies and by switching to interventionist policies, having been able to keep the factories open and the people working. But this has come at a price, there are a few factories running on enormous subsidies, which is having an impact on the federal reserves. The Radicals are exploiting this by guaranteeing free trade and laissez-faire policies, which seems to affect quite a few voters rapidly.
Discovery made in March, it will help future warfare.
The third large debate, an issue of war and peace.
By now it seems that the race for the Presidency will be between Fallon and Stavreau. Where the Radicals have made enormous gains with their economic standpoint, the Conservatives managed to counter this sentiment with their view on the military. The people still feel decently threatened by the Plantagenets and the Vinlandians, so the Radical's proposed Pacifism doesn't really swing many voters to its point of view.
Around the same time as this military debate, researchers from that same military managed to succesfully reverse engineer the weapons found in the Septima-Venetian War for St. Augustine. Muzzle-Loaded Rifles are being made and distributed among the military right now.
The industrial sector can use a boost in the supply of coal.
More unhappiness about discrimination in our schools.
On the 26th of March, one of the most important debates between Fallon and Stavreau takes place, in Flandre Supérieure. Not only is it another economic debate, the voter base in this state comprises of 11% of the end result come July. The debate is so heated, that no-one could predict what outcome it would entail, and we would have to wait for the end results.
Luckily for Fallon, the Radicals had yet to take a considerable amount of voters in the state before the debate.
A small debate with a clear anti-religious outcome.
On May the 1st, an exhibition is opened in Nouvelle Bruges that lifts the art of this Romantic period to new levels. All that visit are amazed over the glorious collection, and they shall remember it for a long time coming.
Romanticist Art, beauty in the making.
Because the issue of Religion is less important to both the major contenders in this election, Fallon had decided to steer his campaign in that direction. Knowing that a direct confrontation concerning industry and economy was an uphill battle, religion would be a good way to blow of the steam against him and the Parti Conservateur.
Two exactly the same debates were held in different states.
Congress gets a distraction for a while.
The final debate of the election. It went completely as Stavreau had hoped. Economy was the subject, and Incumbent President Fallon had trouble keeping up with the Radical's positions and views on the subject. Stavreau won this debate with ease, and could only hope that enough damage had been done to the Conservatives, so that the Parti Radicale might carry a few states, if not enough for the Presidency.
Decisive for Laissez-Faire.
Then, on July the 1st, all the parties were done with the debates, the campaigning, the election was on its way. All four parties were awaiting the choices of the people, and finally the result was in.
The Radicals had only managed to carry one state, but it was a start. They had only started one year ago to spread their ideology in The Seven Republics, and had already made an impact. This might have consequences for the future, but for now Alphonse Fallon was going to start his second term as President.
