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Great Reform Act:No

[Politican]
[Conqueror Legacy +3]



((Private Marquis Oshiro Kazuki @Somberg ))
To the honorable Marquis Oshiro Kazuki,

I would like to hear your thoughts on a hypothetical merger of the Loyalist Association and the National Liberal Party into one single party, which is tentatively called the "Japanese Nationalist Party," under the following terms:
- The NLP and LA will both dissolve and reform as a united Japanese Nationalist Party (JNP)
- Policies: Free Trade/Interventionism/Pro-Military/Pluralism/Limited Citizenship
- JNP governments will, instead of building state-owned munitions factories or relying on buying on the global market (and thus risking the kind of navally blockaded supply line ruining the army's power that happened during the Anglo War), subsidize and give loans for expansion and new factories to the existing private arms industry in Japan to serve any and all such military supply needs.
- The JNP will drop the NLP war hawks' list of demands for Korea and will abstain from aggressive wars against Asian nations (this emphatically does not include Western colonial territories in Asia), instead working to peacefully bring them to modernity by sending advisors and educators. Western colonial powers allied with the German Empire will not be attacked while their treaties are in force.

I look forward to hearing from you on this subject.

Regards,
~Prince Sakamoto Naotari, Leader of the Opposition, Privy Councillor
 
This "Great Reform" is nothing more then a desperate attempt by the National Liberals to retrieve their monopoly on the Imperial Diet. Not only does it seek to ban Socialism, a political as well as economic ideology, it tries to ban itself. The ideas the National Liberals bring to Nippon are foreign and they are at odds with our tradition; yet there is no chance of this piece of legislature being implemented in this way. Instead it will be wielded by the National Liberals to destroy those who pose a challenge to the current supremacy; not only is this a violation of our constitution, it is the destruction of any balance of power in the Imperial Diet.

Great Reform Act: No

[Economic]
[No Political Bonus]
[No Economic Bonus]
[No Bonus]


~ Hajamoto Yoshihiro; Proud Member of Unity & Honour
 
Great Reform Act: No

(Military)
(Imperial Victor +1)

It pains me to disagree with Lord Hosokawa and I do not take this step lightly. However, we have already had a recent upheaval and this Reform presses too much too quickly. We need to maintain stability at this time to allow Japan to catch its breath.

((Since no-one answered my query)) As Minister of the Interior, I believe that we need to help our new industrialists more. Whilst the technical colleges are a success, I propose encouraging more factory workers for the foreseeable period as we have an enviable level of literacy as is, whilst many factories want for hands to run the machines. We will continue to encourage men from around the Nation to join the army as part of the strengthening of our position in Asia.

National focii:

Kanto: Promote Craftsmen
Kansai: Promote Craftsmen
Kyushu: Promote Soldiers


Yamamoto Hirakuni
Count of Nagasaki, Minister for the Interior
 
Prince Date, hearing the various accusations being levelled against his party, sighs at the rank foolishness now permeating both the Representatives and the Peers; he hoped once new elections came about, a new class of reasonably competent men would replace this lot of gallivanting, strutting fools.
 
This "Great Reform" is nothing more then a desperate attempt by the National Liberals to retrieve their monopoly on the Imperial Diet. Not only does it seek to ban Socialism, a political as well as economic ideology, it tries to ban itself. The ideas the National Liberals bring to Nippon are foreign and they are at odds with our tradition; yet there is no chance of this piece of legislature being implemented in this way. Instead it will be wielded by the National Liberals to destroy those who pose a challenge to the current supremacy; not only is this a violation of our constitution, it is the destruction of any balance of power in the Imperial Diet.

Great Reform Act: No

[Economic]
[No Political Bonus]
[No Economic Bonus]
[No Bonus]

~ Hajamoto Yoshihiro; Proud Member of Unity & Honour

Sir, I have heard more logically coherent arguments from the late baka Matsui - and that is not hyperbole. The NLP promotes such "foreign" ideals as respect for Japan's Emperor and his constitution while the socialists favour the promotion of such time-honoured Japanese traditions as republicanism, socialism and atheism, so we must punish the former at the expense of the latter - seriously, sir, that is your argument?

I do not know what it is about Lord Uesugi and why such a wise and capable figure such as he possesses such a great capacity to attract so many moronic, unthinking individuals to his political movements.

-- Hosokawa-dono
 
Great Reform Act: No

[Politician]
[Minister of Finance: +2 VP]
[Imperial Victor: +1 VP]

I find Count Hosokawa's 'Great Reform' to be too drastic a change. I am also disturbed by the fact, that while I might agree on some sections of the Act, supporting the act would mean the support of other sections which I would not want to see implemented. The Foreign Minister should have proposed each section of the act as a bill of its own.

 
Great Reform Act: Nay

[Politician]
[Prime Minister: +3 VP]
[Imperial Victor: +1 VP]


This has come after much deliberation on my part, but I must agree with my colleagues Prince Date and Count Ito. I would have preferred that this act was broken up into several pieces of legislation, to have been considered separately. In its present form it is simply too much too quickly. There is merit to several of the reforms proposed in it, however, and I invite Lord Hosokawa to submit them as separate bills in the future.

~ Ōshiro Kazuki, Marquis of Okayama and Prime Minister of Japan

((Private - Prince Sakamoto Naotari))

To the honorable Prince Sakamoto Naotari,

Unfortunately, the last term of your proposed merger is unacceptable to myself and to the NLP. While I agree with the idea of enlightening other Asian nations, Korea has proven itself to be an enemy to Japan by harboring the traitor Matsui and allowing its own troops to join him in ransacking our villages. We cannot and will not back down as it will show us as being weak, something that is most inherently not true about Japan or about the Japanese People. If this term is non-negotiable, then I do believe a merger of our parties is not possible at this time.

~ Ōshiro Kazuki, Marquis of Okayama and Prime Minister of Japan
 
Revolution Attempt of 1873

Following the election of the NLP to the majority in the Diet, and with the selection of Oshiro Kazuki with his government, an act was put up to vote in the Diet. Hosokawa Mitsuhide, the Foreign Minister and one of the great modernizers of Japanese history, proposed two reforms and a controversially ban. Hosokawa Mitsuhide would face harsh critique from the government and his fellow NLP members. Let us break down each point further and dissect the arguments against each.

First, the reforms. The first reform was to subsidized herbal remedies and medicines. The two biggest arguements here was that the use of herbal remedies was outdated in comparison to many modern medicines the west has access too. The second was the increase in taxes. Income had been suffering for a while in Japan, but this would only cause more stress to the tax-payers, especially the rich. Thus, many economists voted against it to protect their profits. The second reform was an election reform. It would do away with the first past the post representation, and install a proportional voting system. This was applauded, but many felt it was coming too fast. If it was not for any of the other reforms put in with the proportional voting system, it would have surely passed. But many who were for the new system were against the other factors as well, and thus the reform failed to garner support.

Second, there re the governors. Governors were suppose to be a temporary aspect to stabilize Japan, but with the stabilization of three elections behind it, Japan was ready to move on. Not many people though payed attention to this point, for they assumed that governors were just going to stay and be there. The NLP also did not like the demilitarization of the regions, especially after an armed invasion of Japan just a few years prior. Thus, the governors would have to stay.

Last, there was the ban on republicanism and socialism. This one struck home to the 49 Diet members of the Radical Progress Party who felt this part of the act was directed directly at THEM. If passed, the Great Reform Act would have made socialism illegal, and since the people did classify the RPP as an off-branch of socialism, the RPP would have been promptly disbanded, and its members would have faced arrest if they continued to operate their beliefs. Republicanism was fine to be outlawed since mentioning the disposing of the Emperor was just wrong. The RPP campaigned against the Act the most out of all the parties. "We are not the socialists you associated Europeans with! We are simply men who look out for the interests of our farmers and we respect our Emperor!" said an RPP spokesman. Many conservative and NLP critiques of the act stated that Hosokawa was going as far as to ban the RPP, an opposition party, to gain more power for the NLP.

The response to the bill was almost unanimously detested. Hosokawa and and handful of NLP supporters voted for the Act, and almost 450 Diet members voted against it. This seemed to be a uniting factor for the Japanese Government between left and right. Poor Hosokawa though would have it experienced against himself. Date Munenari was even credited as calling the Act "dishonorable", and his words were echoed by Sakamoto Naotari, and other conservatives/liberals. Hosokawa's reputation was hurt badly, along with those who supported his act. With the new term starting, the NLP seemed to be starting on rocky terms...

---------------------------------
Player Actions Needed: Please Vote on the Shareholder Security Act, the Budget, and the Amendment to the Martial Discipline Act.

Sample Ballot:

Shareholder Security Act: Yes/No/Abstain
Budeget: Yes/No/Abstain
Amendment to the Martial Discipline Act: Yes/No/Abstain

[Specialty]
[Political Bonus (If Applicable)]
[Economic Bonus (If Applicable)]
[Bonus/Punishment (If Applicable)]

Political Bonuses:
Somberg: +3
LordTempest: +2
Michaelangelo: +2
EmperorBasilius: +2

Economic Bonuses:
mrlifeless: +3

Also, Tempest and Le Corbuiser, for supporting a failed revolution, you get the following penalty:

Failed Revolutionary
Definition: These men have failed to change the government drastically via the political process, and thus have been discredited, which means a lost of influence to the population.
Ability: -2 Voting Power
Duration: Till after the next election

You must put penalties in when you vote, else your ballot will not be counted.
 
Shareholder Security Act: Yes
Budget: Yes
Amendment to the Martial Discipline Act: Yes

[Politician]
[Minister of Finance: +2 VP]
[Imperial Victor: +1 VP]

~ Nishimura Hiroshi, Count of Fukuoka and Minister of Finance
 
Great Reform Act: Nay

[Politician]
[Prime Minister: +3 VP]
[Imperial Victor: +1 VP]


This has come after much deliberation on my part, but I must agree with my colleagues Prince Date and Count Ito. I would have preferred that this act was broken up into several pieces of legislation, to have been considered separately. In its present form it is simply too much too quickly. There is merit to several of the reforms proposed in it, however, and I invite Lord Hosokawa to submit them as separate bills in the future.

~ Ōshiro Kazuki, Marquis of Okayama and Prime Minister of Japan

((Private - Prince Sakamoto Naotari))

To the honorable Prince Sakamoto Naotari,

Unfortunately, the last term of your proposed merger is unacceptable to myself and to the NLP. While I agree with the idea of enlightening other Asian nations, Korea has proven itself to be an enemy to Japan by harboring the traitor Matsui and allowing its own troops to join him in ransacking our villages. We cannot and will not back down as it will show us as being weak, something that is most inherently not true about Japan or about the Japanese People. If this term is non-negotiable, then I do believe a merger of our parties is not possible at this time.

~ Ōshiro Kazuki, Marquis of Okayama and Prime Minister of Japan

((Private - Prime Minister Oshiro Kazuki))

Sir,

I am willing to amend my point regarding Korea to the following: the Loyalist Association will support a punitive expedition to Korea on the conditions that no Korean territory is ceded to Japan and that the only goals in the war are to humiliate/cut down to size/dismantle fortifications. I hope you find these terms more favorable.

Regards,
~Sakamoto Naotari, Prince of Kanto and Leader of the Opposition


((Public))

I abstain to all issues put up to vote.

[Prince]
[Politician]
[Conqueror Legacy +3]
 
I believe it is time that Korea be forced to pay for aiding Matsui in his attack on Kyushu. There are those who say we should just seek financial compensation. They were not in Kyushu when Korean mercenaries slaughtered innocent Japanese citizens. Taking funds from their treasury is a mere slap on the wrist. They will merely resent us and that will encourage them to make another attempt in the future. We must strike hard to ensure they never consider such a thing again. As Minister of War, I call for our fair nation to make Korea into a protectorate. Just as Korea once served as a tributary state of China, we shall establish a presence there to ensure the Koreans behave. Not only that, but this gives us the chance to protect the Koreans from the Nanban, if perhaps against their will. They have been influenced by the Americans and Belgians, but they are too weak to ever be able to overthrow such puppet-masters. We shall save them from that fate. Let Nippon grow strong through war so it can protect our brethren in Asia from the Nanban.

- Ito Katashi of Miyazaki, Minister of War

((If it isn't clear, I want us to fabricate an establish protectorate CB on Korea.))
 
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