Striving for a world transformed by justice and peace - a TL from 1827
- Thread starter pipisme
- Start date
The issue of Irish Home Rule was prominent in the Bristol East by-election with the Commonwealth and Liberal candidates supporting the Government of Ireland Bill, and the Conservative candidate opposed to it. The Liberal vote fell considerably in both elections because Home Rule polarised opinion and the Liberals were squeezed between Commonwealth and Conservative.
After passing through all its stages in the House of Commons, the Government of Ireland Bill went to the House of Lords. It debated the second reading from 15 to 17 May 1877. Margaret Roberts, a Commonwealth Party Peer from Glamorgan and Under-Secretary at the Home Office and a friend of Angharad Griffiths, was the lead government spokesperson on the Bill. In her speech for the government winding up the debate she made a passionate appeal to Peers not to reject the Bill, but to follow the democratic will of the people of Ireland and give it a second reading. In the vote at the end of the debate the Bill was rejected by 265 votes to 157 votes, a majority against of 108. The breakdown of the vote by party was as follows:
Against:
Conservative: 207
Liberal: 32
Independents: 8
Bishops: 18
-----------
Total: 265
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For:
Commonwealth: 69
Irish Nationalist: 24
Liberal: 41
Independents: 18
Bishops: 5
-----------
Total: 157
-----------
After passing through all its stages in the House of Commons, the Government of Ireland Bill went to the House of Lords. It debated the second reading from 15 to 17 May 1877. Margaret Roberts, a Commonwealth Party Peer from Glamorgan and Under-Secretary at the Home Office and a friend of Angharad Griffiths, was the lead government spokesperson on the Bill. In her speech for the government winding up the debate she made a passionate appeal to Peers not to reject the Bill, but to follow the democratic will of the people of Ireland and give it a second reading. In the vote at the end of the debate the Bill was rejected by 265 votes to 157 votes, a majority against of 108. The breakdown of the vote by party was as follows:
Against:
Conservative: 207
Liberal: 32
Independents: 8
Bishops: 18
-----------
Total: 265
------------
For:
Commonwealth: 69
Irish Nationalist: 24
Liberal: 41
Independents: 18
Bishops: 5
-----------
Total: 157
-----------
The House of Lords had the right to veto Home Rule legislation because it was designated as a constitutional issue under the provisions of the Parliament Act 1860. The government could introduce a new Home Rule Bill in the next parliament if the Commonwealth Party won the next general election.
In 1876 and 1877 the main issue in British foreign policy was that of reaction to the atrocities against Christians in Bulgaria by the Ottoman Empire. [1] The Commonwealth Party was active in agitation against the atrocities, and it played a major part in the League in Aid of the Christians of Turkey.
[1] I have put a butterfly net around the Ottoman Empire so these atrocities were the same as in OTL.
In 1876 and 1877 the main issue in British foreign policy was that of reaction to the atrocities against Christians in Bulgaria by the Ottoman Empire. [1] The Commonwealth Party was active in agitation against the atrocities, and it played a major part in the League in Aid of the Christians of Turkey.
[1] I have put a butterfly net around the Ottoman Empire so these atrocities were the same as in OTL.
The Commonwealth Party played a major part in the agitation against the Bulgarian atrocities which they treated as a moral crusade. But while the Foreign Secretary, Alexander Macdonald, demanded that Turkey be expelled from Europe, the cabinet were reluctant to declare war on the Ottoman Empire, and preferred a diplomatic solution. Macdonald was the lead British representative at the Constantinople Conference which met from 23 December 1876 to 20 January 1877. [1] The other European powers represented were Austria-Hungary-North Italy, France, Prussia and Russia. Its decisions were rejected by the Ottoman Sultan, Abdul Hamid II and his government. [2]
[1] As in OTL. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople_Conference.
[2] As in OTL. See sections headed Decisions and Conclusion in above link.
[1] As in OTL. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople_Conference.
[2] As in OTL. See sections headed Decisions and Conclusion in above link.
Following the Ottoman rejection of the decisions of the Constantinople Conference, an alliance of Austria-Hungary-North Italy, France, Great Britain, Montenegro, Russia, and Serbia declared war on the Ottoman Empire in April 1877. The Balkan War, as it is called in this TL, was short and ended with victory for the alliance. The terms of the Treaty of Vienna in November 1877 were as follows:
1) Bulgaria became an independent nation with its boundaries as those decided at the Constantinople Conference. [1]
2) Austria-Hungary-North Italy annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina from the Ottoman Empire.
3) The independence of Montenegro, Serbia and Romania were formally recognised.
4) France gained Cyprus from the Ottomans.
5) The Ottoman Empire ceded districts in the Caucasus to Russia.
[1] See the map in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople_Conference
1) Bulgaria became an independent nation with its boundaries as those decided at the Constantinople Conference. [1]
2) Austria-Hungary-North Italy annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina from the Ottoman Empire.
3) The independence of Montenegro, Serbia and Romania were formally recognised.
4) France gained Cyprus from the Ottomans.
5) The Ottoman Empire ceded districts in the Caucasus to Russia.
[1] See the map in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople_Conference
The British government defended British intervention in the Balkan War as necessary to win the independence of Bulgaria, and not for territorial gain. But the Conservative Party attacked them for letting France have Cyprus. Emperor Napoleon IV won glory for himself and his country by the annexation of Cyprus. Austria-Hungary-North Italy was pleased that it had gained Bosnia-Herzegovina, but they were possibly storing up trouble for the future. Bulgarians were delighted with their independence, but expert commentators warned that such a large Bulgaria was inherently unstable, and that there could be a second Balkan war within twenty years.
After the House of Lords vetoed the Government of Ireland Bill, there was a significant increase in Irish cultural nationalism. In February 1878 Thomas Dillon founded the Gaelic League [Conradhe na Gaeilge]. It enabled Irish language schools and encouraged Irish culture, such as literature and music.
After the US presidential election of November 1872 in which the Liberty Party regained the White House from the Constitution Party, President Henry Wilson appointed William Gladstone as secretary of state. In May 1873 Benjamin Disraeli became British ambassador to the United States of America. The two men met several times, but they did not become friends. Because of personality differences and clashes their relationship was formal and polite. However their wives, Alice Haverly Gladstone and Anna Disraeli, formed a close friendship.
The United States presidential election on 7 November 1876 was won by the Constitution Party candidates. Samuel J. Tilden, the Governor of New York was elected President and Thomas F. Bayard, Senator from Delaware, Vice-President. They defeated of President Henry Wilson and Vice-President Edmund Jackson Davis of the Liberty Party. Their defeat has been attributed to the economic depression and the Greenback Party which took votes mostly from the Liberty Party.
Great timeline, although threadmarking would definitely help new readers navigate your impressive work.
Thank you. I'm glad you this timeline. I will start threadmarking when I learn how to do it, and when I have got time.
Actually, it is very simple, Pip. In any TL which you initiate, there is a small dialogue box called Threadmark Label. It is just above the main box in which you type or paste your update. You simply put a title for the post in that and it shows as a title in the post
Gladstone family
Now that William Gladstone was no longer Secretary of State he wanted to find another outlet for his talents and energies. He was sixty-seven years old. In January 1877 the situation of the three Gladstone children was as follows.
Robert Gladstone and his wife, Ominatago, and their children were living on their farm in Colorado. Frances Gladstone Frost, and her doctor husband, Samuel, were living with their children in New York City. As were Angelina Van Wyck, her husband, Charles, and their children. Charles was re-elected as Liberty Party congressman for the 10th District of New York in the November 1876 mid term elections.
Robert Gladstone and his wife, Ominatago, and their children were living on their farm in Colorado. Frances Gladstone Frost, and her doctor husband, Samuel, were living with their children in New York City. As were Angelina Van Wyck, her husband, Charles, and their children. Charles was re-elected as Liberty Party congressman for the 10th District of New York in the November 1876 mid term elections.
Gladstone family
In the United States the Women's Rights Movement campaigned for the vote for all adult women. Women's suffrage was opposed by the Constitution Party, but supported by the Liberty Party. Wyoming Territory had enfranchised women in 1867, Colorado in 1873 and Vermont in 1874. Ominatago Gladstone had voted in the 1874 midterm elections, and in the 1876 presidential, congressional and gubernatorial elections.
In 1875 Aaron A. Sargent [California - Liberty Party] had introduced a women's suffrage amendment to the constitution in the Senate. However it was defeated. [1] The Liberty Party lost control of the Senate in the 1874 midterm elections.
[1] He introduced a similar amendment in OTL. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_A._Sargent.
In 1875 Aaron A. Sargent [California - Liberty Party] had introduced a women's suffrage amendment to the constitution in the Senate. However it was defeated. [1] The Liberty Party lost control of the Senate in the 1874 midterm elections.
[1] He introduced a similar amendment in OTL. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_A._Sargent.
Lady Fanny Octavia Louise Churchill [born 13 February 1849] married Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne [born 14 January 1845] in June 1869. [1] She was a beautiful,intelligent, charming and spirited women with strong Liberal sympathies.
[1] In this TL the dates of birth of Lady Fanny Churchill and Lord Randolph Churchill are switched. Lord Randolph was born on 29 January 1853.
[1] In this TL the dates of birth of Lady Fanny Churchill and Lord Randolph Churchill are switched. Lord Randolph was born on 29 January 1853.