--- The Beck Presidency (1895-1901) ---
“A sea of red consumed President’s Square and the south end of Union Avenue,” that is how one observer described inauguration day 1895. The Liberal Party was ecstatic. They’d captured Washington House and Congress. After Colin Beck took the oath of office on the steps of the Congress Hall on Monday, March 4th ,1895, the real question was whether or not the relatively young party was up to the task to actually govern. Days after being sworn in, the House of Representatives reconfirmed Gary Sanderson, Liberal representative from Ohio, as the Speaker and First Secretary. In his address to the House after he took his oath, Sanderson declared that “the People of America have spoken, and they have chosen the people’s party. We will bring about the reforms they cry out for, the reforms that this nation needs to transition into the twentieth century.”
In short order, the Liberals set about to do exactly what they’d promised in the campaign. Dozens of bills flooded Congress, and by summer had received presidential signature, despite attempts by the Nationalists and Federalists to block these actions through procedural measures. Some state governments, especially in the West where the Liberals did not have a strong footing, resisted implementation of the new reforms where they could, but overall by the time of the next Congressional elections came around in 1896, the country had experienced dozens of new, far reaching reforms. Child labor was banned, working days were limited to 12 hours, and unions were fully legalized. There was serious talk of nationalizing health care through the national health bureau, and also of the big Liberal platform piece, giving women the right to vote nationwide.
Harley, Dr. Donald. Liberalism, A History. Franklin: UUS Press House, 2016.
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RIOTS IN DUBLIN
LONDON - British authorities are reporting widespread rioting in Dublin after a senior member of the Irish People’s Party was found guilty of treason in a highly publicized trial. Sean Calloway was arrested last year, charged with conspiracy to incite rebellion against the crown, after seditious pamphlets, diagrams of attack, and some arms were reportedly found on his property outside the Irish capital. Callway remains a popular figure in the IPP, and other leaders say he is being framed and that the British authorities are trying to undermine their political movement for Irish home rule.
So far, the police in Dublin report that at least two dozen are dead, hundreds more are in local hospitals, and that near as many have been arrested. Some in London are urging the Prime Minister to send troops into the region to restore order.
“Riots in Dublin,” Franklin Observer, April 30, 1895.
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LOWERY PROMISES AUTOWAGON FOR EVERY MAN
PHILADELPHIA - Julius Lowery, the Philadelphia inventor who has gained a reputation in the city the past ten years as the “Petersen of Pennsylvania,” has announced that within a year every town in America will have at least one of his newest inventions, the “Lowery 12,” a steam-powered automated wagon. Petersen has been driving his contraption around for years, and there are several models being driven in Philadelphia and in other cities that came out of Lowery’s factory. However, the number 12 will be different. Lowery has perfected what he calls the “assembly line,” a way for these so-called autowagons (others at the Lowery Works call the machines “steamers,” and it’s about 50/50 as to which is used more often) to be produced en masse, which Lowery believes will drive down the price so that more than the ultra rich can afford them.
“Lowery Promises Autowagon For Every Man,” Brooklyn Standard, June 19, 1895.
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NATIONAL HISTORICAL, SCIENCE INSTITUTES ESTABLISHED
FRANKLIN - Congress, working in tandem with the University of the United States, has chartered two new institutions, the National Historical Institute, and the National Science Institute. Both will for now operate on the UUS campus in North Franklin, but officials say that eventually both will get their own grand edifices in the capital. The NHI will be overseeing the Federal Archive, and its new director, Hunter Mansfield, states he hopes to help Congress organize their records and archives as well to create a grand “national library.” Mansfield also states he wants to work with states to preserve important historical sites across the country, and points to the fairly recent opening of a park in Maryland that is preserving the ruins of the nation's previous capital, Washington City, near present-day Georgetown Maryland as an example of the kind of work that the NHI hopes to do.
Professor Isaiah Edwards of UUS will be taking the helm at the National Science Institute, and he states that it is his goal to have the NSI work with the Department of Education to fully network the universities in this country to better serve scientific study and development, both practical and theoretical, and to help fund research wherever possible.
Capital Architect Horace Rogers states that both institutions will be part of his new development plan near the university, what Rogers calls the “Federal Cultural District.” This new district will, if completed, boast a new opera house, theater, art galleries, and the homes of both the NHI and the NSI.
“National Historical, Science Institutes Established,” Boston Eagle, September 7, 1895.
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TRIPLE WIN FOR SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT
MANHATTAN - The National Women’s Suffrage Association has announced victory in three states after measures at the ballot box passed in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and the District of Manhattan. Starting January 1st, 1896, women in all three jurisdictions will be able to vote in local, state, and national elections. Elizabeth Cady-Brewer gave a speech at the Union Hotel in Lower Manhattan to supporters, where she said, “We have made a small but important victory tonight. We have doubled the number of states where women can now vote, the same as their men. And the people of this great District of Manhattan have also given a political voice to their women. But this is only one battle on the road to full national suffrage. As I have done many times since March, I again urge President Beck, First Secretary Sanderson, and the rest of Congress to give women the right to vote from Florida to Oregon and in every state, district, and territory in between.”
“Triple Win for Suffrage Movement,” Manhattan Gazette, November 9, 1895.
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HEALTH BUREAU TO BE RAISED TO CABINET
FRANKLIN - As part of the Liberal Party agenda to expand healthcare coverage to more if not all Americans, and to increase the government’s role in that endeavor, First Secretary Sanderson today announced that Congress had reached an agreement to elevate the Federal Bureau of Health to the cabinet, to be reorganized as a department separate from the Department of the Interior. The Liberals have praised the move, and see it as a first step to federal takeover and regulation of hospitals, and the eventual creation of a national health system, not dissimilar to the education system set up in the 1870s. President Beck has promised he will sign any such proposal, so it seems likely that by this time next week, Health Bureau Director Stan Perryman will become the nation’s first Secretary of Health.
“Health Bureau to be Raised to Cabinet,” Franklin Observer, April 3, 1896.
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The biggest issue of the 1896 congressional campaign was the intent of the Liberal party to pass a women’s suffrage amendment during the next congressional term, something supported by President Beck. The Nationalists campaigned hard against this proposal, claiming it would upset the social order, and corrupt the family if women were suddenly concerned with affairs outside the home. The Federalists were more divided on the issue, with some agreeing with the Nationalists, and others with the Liberals, or at least not being so sensational as the Nationalists were in their anti-suffrage campaign. Debates were held in cities and towns across the nation in what was one of the hardest fought congressional campaigns in recent memory for many voters. In the end, the Liberals would retain control of Congress, but the Nationalists surged forward with many victories, promising to be a thorn in the side of the committed suffragists in the Liberal Party.
Sanders, Dr. Virginia. American Liberalism. Manhattan, FD, Manhattan Univ Press, 1990.
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LIBERALS KEEP CONGRESS
FRANKLIN - The results are in, and it now appears that not only is the Liberal Party to remain in control of the House of Representatives, but they have increased their number by 1, and also added a seat to their coalition partner, the Owenite Faction, now bringing their combined total up to 255 seats, 4 more than the 251 needed for control. The big winner though, were the Nationalists, who went from 118 seats two years ago to 150 seats, almost exclusively at the expense of the Federalists, which went from 129 seats to 95.
In the Senate, the Nationalists and the Liberals are now tied 30-30, with the Federalists at 13 and the Owenites at 1, who caucuses with the Liberals. This is unlikely to upset the current balance of power too much in the Senate, as the Federalists tend to vote with the Liberals, or at least enough of them do to get their agenda passed.
“Liberals Keep Congress,” Franklin Observer, November 10, 1896.
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TEX-GERMAN TINKERER TAKES TO THE AIR
BENTONVILLE, TXF - Tex-German entrepreneur and former army officer Ferdinand Zeppelin today successfully tested his so-called “Luftschiff,” (airship), a lighter-than-air craft capable of self propulsion (unlike a hot air balloon that is either stationary, anchored to the ground, or at the whims of the air currents). Zeppelin’s craft, the Anthony Benton, also known by its identification number ZL-1, took off from a floating hangar that the Zeppelin Aircraft Works built on Trinity Bay, near the port of Bentonville, Texas, and flew for about twenty minutes before landing safely. The company was originally operating in Zeppelin’s home town of Neu Frankfurt, some 100 miles to the northwest, but decided that for these early test flights it would be easier to launch on a large body of water and be able to float the hanger into the direction of the wind, making for easier takeoff.
“Tex-German Tinkerer Takes to the Air,” New Orleans Star, April 12, 1897.
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LIBS PRESENT SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT
FRANKLIN - The long awaited women’s suffrage amendment has finally been presented before Congress. The wording is very simple, and in many ways is just an addition to the 21st Amendment passed in 1863, which established universal suffrage for all men 21 years of age and older. The new addition states, “Voting rights cannot be restricted from any woman, other than that a woman be 21 years of age and have been a resident of their state for at least one year.” There is expected to be several rounds of debate before a vote, but that could come as early as next week. If it passes the House with the required 2/3rds majority (no easy feat, as it will require at least 78 members of either opposition party to side with the Liberals), it will then go on to face an even harder test in the Senate, where passage will require 50 votes. With the Liberals only controlling 31 seats, and the Federalists having 13, at least 6 Nationalists will have to be wooed to the suffragists side before the Amendment can be sent to the states for ratification.
If Congress ultimately approves this amendment, something that is far from certain at this point despite Liberal rhetoric to the contrary, it will also be a hard fight in the states. Of the 36 states and 2 districts, the suffragists must get 29 of them to ratify this new amendment for it to become part of the constitution. Liberals have strong influence in 21 states and so can count them in with no problem. Of the remaining 17, the Liberals will have to win over 8, which will prove to be no easy task.
“Libs Present Suffrage Amendment,” Franklin Observer, September 9, 1897.
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BRITISH HEIR GIVES SUPPORT TO IRISH HOME RULE BILL
LONDON - The heir to the British throne, Crown Princess Victoria Alexandra, has shocked the traditionally conservative political establishment in London by voicing her public support for the proposed “Irish Home Rule Bill,” which would establish a devolved Irish parliament in Dublin, with a separate Irish prime minister, and greater say in domestic affairs. In many ways, it would make Ireland on par with Borealia, though not quite as independent. British Conservatives vowed that the bill would never see the floor of parliament when it was first proposed last month by the minority British People’s Party, but now, with the support from such a prominent member of the Royal Family, it is likely to become a bigger issue.
“British Heir Gives Support to Irish Home Rule Bill,” Boston Eagle, September 15, 1897.
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SUFFRAGE BILL PASSES HOUSE, NATIONALISTS PLAN ON SENATE FIGHT
FRANKLIN - After a debate that dragged out many more weeks than expected, the Liberal Party has managed to gain the 334 votes they needed to reach a 2/3rds majority approval in the House of Representatives for their proposed Women’s Suffrage Amendment, which the Liberals have dubbed the “Sanders Amendment,” after the late Hillary Sanders, a prominent Suffragist from New York who died last year. After Elizabeth Cady-Brewer, Sanders was one of the most outspoken Suffragists in the country. In the end, the amendment actually received 342 votes, with even a few Nationalists supporting the bill. While the Nationalists as a whole remain opposed to the proposed expansion of the franchise, a few individuals did vote their individual conscience, and a few more stated that while they oppose giving women the vote, they feel that this issue should ultimately be decided in the states, so Congress should not stand in the way of that process.
Now the Sanders Amendment finds itself up against an even harder fight, the approval of the United States Senate. The Liberals control 30 Senate seats (plus 1 supporting vote from the lone Owenite senator), but this is well short of the 50 votes needed to currently pass an amendment in the Senate. With only 13 Federalists in the Senate, at least some Nationalists will have to be brought on board if the question of giving the vote to women nationwide will ever reach the states. Nationalist leadership is promising to fight the amendment along party lines, and there are at least 5 Federalist senators that have spoken out against the proposal in the last month.
“Suffrage Bill Passes House, Nationalists Plan on Senate Fight,” Brooklyn Standard, October 1, 1897.
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BAVARIAN KING TO MARRY FRENCH PRINCESS
MUNICH - It was announced today by officials at the Residenz, the Bavarian royal palace, that King Maximilian III has agreed to marry the young daughter of King Louis XIX of France, in an effort to further strengthen the bond that has been shared since 1877, when King Maximilian III first took the throne in the wake of the Prusso-Austrian War, which saw the severing of the long-standing alliance between Austria and Bavaria as one of the stipulations of the peace forced upon the Austrian alliance by mighty Prussia. Almost before the dust settled, France offered to be Bavaria’s new protector, preventing the Prussians from attempting to control all of the German-speaking nations of Europe.
Princess Geneviève, only 18, will become the strongest link yet between the two nations. Her Brother, Prince Anton-Philippe, will someday become the next King of France, arguably the strongest nation on the European Continent (though still not as powerful as Queen Victoria’s vast, globe-spanning empire). This union will tie Bavaria irrevocably into France’s sphere of influence, which has caused concern for many parties. In Bavaria itself, there are those that would rather see Bavaria be truly independent, free of any outside influence, be they French, Prussian, or Austrian. Still others long for unification with the other German nations (though not necessarily under Prussian rule). And there are still those, though granted now a small number, that would rather see Bavaria lead the fight to restore the Austrian monarchy and have their King wed an Austrian Princess instead.
What remains to be seen is how Prussia will react to this announcement, which is a clear attack on Prussian designs on the south-German nations of Bavaria, Baden, and Wurttemberg, not to mention the desires of some Prussians to crush the Austrian Republic and make it part of their empire as well. Most think that Prussian King Frederick William V will acquiesce to the wedding, but there are some that fear this could be the spark that leads to a large war in Europe.
“Bavarian King to Marry French Princess,” Franklin Observer, October 27, 1897.
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SENATE SHOCK: SANDERS AMENDMENT PASSES
FRANKLIN - After over a month of back and forth between the the pro- and anti-suffragist faction in the Senate, the Sanders Amendment received the requisite vote to pass. All 30 Liberals votes in favor, along with the lone Owenite, followed by 11 of 13 Federalists, and 8 of 30 Nationalists. Those from the Nationalist Party that broke rank, such as Senator Benjamin Norton of Virginia, stated that they believed this issue needed to be settled once and for all by the states, echoing Nationalists from the House that voted for the amendment in September.
Now that it has passed, the proposal will be sent to the states to be voted on by their state legislatures for final ratification. It is expected that some of the Liberal stronghold states, such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island, will pass the amendment before the year is out. But past that, it is hard to tell if the suffragists can get the required 29 states to approve.
“Senate Shock: Sanders Amendment Passes,” Manhattan Gazette, November 12, 1897.
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BENZ-DAIMLER RELEASE ANSWER TO THE LOWERY 12
NACOGDOCHES, TXF - The Benz-Daimler Motorwerk has announced that it has perfected its own design for an autowagon (motorwagen, as BDM calls them) that will be affordable by more than the wealthy. The Lowery 12, the steam-powered vehicle produced in Pennsylvania, has become increasingly popular since it’s release in 1895, and the much anticipated Lowery 15 will be released next year and is suppoed to be twice as fast and just as affordable, and boasts the much anticipated electric starter light, to make lighting the steam boiler much easier. The BDM’s soon-to-be released vehicle, being called Blitzwagen, is said to be able to match the anticipated speed of the Lowery 15, and may be even cheaper than it’s American counterpart. And more importantly, like all other BDM craft, the Blitzwagen will run on gasoline, which is slowly becoming a readily available commodity in the Texas Federation and US Border States, now that several major oil deposits have been discovered in several parts of Old Texas. Benz-Daimler has also instituted the idea of an assembly line in its factory (something that is springing up across the continent). Whether the Tex-German machine will be a true rival for Lowery’s contraptions remains to be seen.
“Benz-Daimler Release Answer to the Lowery 12,” St. Louis Times, March 3, 1898.
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15 STATES HAVE RATIFIED SANDERS AMENDMENT
TRENTON, NJ - New Jersey has become the 15th state to pass the Sanders Suffrage Amendment since it was approved by Congress last fall, meaning that only 14 more now are required to ratify the new change to the Constitution before it becomes law, giving the right to vote to all women of the United States who are 21 years of age or older. While it is unlikely to be achieved before the Congressional election this fall, Liberals are still confident that the Amendment will be finalized before President Beck leaves office in March of 1901.
“15 States Have Ratified Sanders Amendment,” Brooklyn Standard, March 20, 1898.
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MAXIMILIAN III AND PRINCESS GENEVIEVE WED
MUNICH - In a lavish ceremony at the Frauenkirche in the heart of Munich, King Maximilian III of Bavaria married Princess Geneviève of France, the daughter of King Louis XIX. The Bavarian capital was decked out in Bavarian blue and white, along with the blue and gold of the Bourbon monarchy (it was decided that the French Tri-Color would be too political with continued Prussian agitation against the wedding). When the wedding was announced a year ago, some had feared that Prussia would object outright, possibly even with force, but such fears appear to have been unfounded. There have been minor protests filed by Berlin, but none in the past six months, and the Prussian Ambassador to Bavaria attended the service and subsequent reception at the Residenz.
The King and his new bride, now Queen Geneviève, will travel to the south of France along the Côte d'Azur, known to some as the French Riviera for a long honeymoon.
“Maximilian III and Princess Geneviève Wed,” Boston Eagle, October 1, 1898.
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LIBS LOSE MAJORITY, SPEAKERSHIP UNCLEAR
FRANKLIN - The Liberal Party and their partner, the Owenite Faction, have lost 19 seats, dropping from 255 seats to 236, now 15 seats shy of a majority and control of the House. If First Secretary Sanderson is to remain in office, it will require support from the Federalists. At this point, it is uncertain if the Federalists will support Sanderson remaining in office. Federalist Representative Kyle Whitmore, newly elected from Ohio, told reporters, “Gary Sanderson has been in office for as long as a President. It is time for a change in leadership. Either the Liberals put forth a more moderate member, or we may have to make a bargain with the Nationalists and really shake things up.” This sentiment has been repeated by several members of the 99-seat Federalist caucus in the House, and not just by new members.
The Nationalists now control 164 seats in the House. If 87 of the 99 Federalist representatives side with second largest party, Sanderson’s term as speaker is over, and the era of absolute Liberal control in Franklin will come to an end with two years still in President Beck’s term.
"Libs Lose Majority, Speakership Unclear," Franklin Observer, November 7, 1898.
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The fact that the Liberal Party, after having only been on the political scene for 14 years when it captured both the Presidency and Congress in 1894, was nothing short of a shocking. The fact that control of Congress was lost in 1898 was not. After four years of what was at the time strikingly radical reforms, including the passage in Congress of the Women’s Suffrage Amendment, the forces of reaction were able to swing enough vulnerable seats to take back Congress. In March of 1899, First Secretary Gary Sanderson was swept out of office, replaced by Nationalist Rudolph Trapp of Ohio. Though the Federalist-Nationalist alliance in the House was not strong, it was strong enough to put the breaks on the breakneck speed that the Liberals had been pushing reform since 1894. The Liberals were still the largest party, however, so reform didn’t stop when Trapp took office in the First Speaker’s chair. In the first half of 1900, the Old Person’s Pension Act was passed with support of all three parties (though far from unanimous at just 273 votes in favor), establishing the start of the social security net that we now take for granted today.
Harley, Dr. Donald. Liberalism, A History. Franklin: UUS Press House, 2016.
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IRISH HOME RULE FAILS TO PASS
LONDON - The British Parliament voted overwhelmingly against the proposed Irish Home Rule, despite Crown Princess Victoria Alexandra speaking in favor of the law. Authorities in London are worried that the failure of the proposal will lead to unrest in Ireland, and reportedly “taking precautions” to prevent widespread violence and destruction of property. The Royal Family have made no direct statements about the vote in Parliament, though many expect the Crown Princess to make a statement soon, even if the Queen herself remains quiet.
“Irish Home Rule Fails to Pass,” Boston Eagle, April 3, 1899.
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The success of the ZL-1 on its initial flight on April 12, 1897, gave a huge boost to the Zeppelin Aircraft Works, which had relocated from Neu Frankfurt to the bustling harbor of Bentonville, the Texas Federation’s gateway to the world. New investments came in from across Texas, and the United States as well. By the spring 1898, construction of the ZL-2, the Stephen Austin, was underway, and the Anthony Benton had achieved 7 more successful flights. Zeppelin planned for the ZL-2 to launch by the summer of 1899, which it did, watched by hundred of people on the shore of Trinity Bay on July 9. The new craft, which was nearly 100ft longer than the 407ft. ZL-1, was able to fly for nearly an hour, topping off at 22 miles per hour. The craft flew from its floating hangar all the way to Bentonville proper and then circled back, a journey of nearly 60 miles. Flying onboard that day was a senior assistant to the Texan Secretary of War, Colonel Hans Diaz, who found the airship to be “most impressive, with clear military implications.” Also in attendance for that day’s flight, though not on board, was Gottlieb Daimler, the 64 co-owner of Benz-Daimler Motorwerk. Daimler, who was always looking for new projects to tackle, was fascinated with Zeppelin’s “air machine,” and would soon set up a deal with Zeppelin to help develop engines for the lighter-than-air craft being developed at ZAW.
Anderson, Dr. Jacob. The Zeppelin Story. Nacogdoches: TU Press, 1999.
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BAVARIANS CELEBRATE BIRTH OF HEIR
MUNICH - The Bavarian royal palace announced today that Queen Geneviève has given birth to a healthy baby boy, Prince Georg Maximilian Ludwig. The birth comes amid continued tensions between Bavaria, Prussia, and France. The Queen is said to be resting comfortably after the birth, and the palace officials have said there were no complications during the delivery. Despite political worries outside their borders, Bavarians are said to be jubilant, putting up patriotic bunting and selling flowers to celebrate the new royal.
“Bavarians Celebrate Birth of Heir,” Franklin Observer, July 15, 1899.
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VICTORIA DEAD BY ASSASSINS BOMB!
DUBLIN - Queen Victoria has been murdered by a bomb thrown at her carriage while on an official trip to the Irish capital. She is said to have died instantly when the bomb exploded in the carriage after being chunked from amongst the crowd. Her Majesty was there on a goodwill tour set up by her daughter, Princess Victoria Alexandra, after the failure of the Irish Home Rule Bill earlier this year. The Queen had been in the city for two days, and was set to return to Britain this evening, and was giving one final open-air carriage parade in the city center. The overall mood of the city and the crowds had been subdued, with minor protests and a few small clashes with police, but up until the point when the royal carriage passed in by Queen’s College things had been peaceful overall. Most in Ireland do not blame the monarchy for the failure of the bill, instead blaming the British conservative parties that have kept a stranglehold on parliament despite the rising popularity of reform movements.
A suspect was apprehended almost immediately, though authorities have not released his identity or connection to the attack at this time. Prime MInister Jonathan Bradley, a conservative, has declared a state of emergency in Ireland and given orders for military mobilization. The Crown Princess, who was supposed to be with her mother, and would likely have been in the same carriage and also killed by the blast, is in Scotland, attempting to recover from a serious bout of illness, likely the Flu that has had so many sick the past year. Her exact condition at this time is unknown, nor if she knows what has transpired in Ireland.
“Victoria Dead by Assassins Bomb!” Manhattan Gazette, July 30 1899.
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Queen Victoria I’s murder by radical Peter Walsh is one of the most defining turning points of modern history. Though it didn’t cause the soon-to-erupt violence on the Continent, it did lead to Britain’s inability to try to bring that conflict to a close, as the Empire was quickly overwhelmed by events in Ireland, Japan, and eventually back in Britain itself. The “Reign of Fire,” as this tumultuous period is known, began almost immediately. Within hours of Victoria I’s death, Prime Minister Bradley had troops mobilizing in Ireland, to crack down on what he called, “the birth pains of revolt.” Next, he had a secret meeting with Prince William, husband of Victoria II, and Prince Edward, the new Queen’s younger brother. Prince William confirmed that the new Queen was barely conscious, and definitely not fit to rule properly in this time of crisis. It was decided that Prince Victor William, the royal couple’s 29 year old son and newly minted heir, would be announced as regent until his mother recovered.
There has been a lot said and written in the years since the pseudo-coup of Bradley and Edward about the motivations of Prince William. Detractors say that he was out for power too, and did not support the reforms of his wife. This line of thinking makes for great propaganda, but is not supported by the historical evidence. From the Prince’s own writing from prior to 1899, we know that he supported his wife’s causes, and did not disagree with her calls for reform. To the contrary, William wrote not long after their marriage in 1867 that he was glad to get away from “stodgy Prussian conservatism, and into the heart of European reform. No realm is more focused on reform that that of my new mother-in-law.” But the prince had never been one to seek the limelight, and was often uncomfortable with how exposed he felt his wife made herself when she went out crusading. From what we he wrote in those months after the attack, he feared earnestly for his wife’s health and safety. He was afraid if Victoria II came down to London too soon her health would not recover, in addition to paranoia over a possible second attack. So instead, he kept his wife secluded at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, while his brother-in-law and the Prime Minister ruled the country while using his son as a puppet.
Edward’s motivations are beyond a doubt, however. Prince Edward began to complain of being robbed of his rightful place on the throne early in his adolescence, a personal wound that was continually prodded at by his peers in school and afterwards in military service. The elite of the country resented Victoria I’s reforms, and passed on their poison to her youngest child. When his mother was killed while his sister was incapacitated with illness, the Prince saw an immediate opportunity, and admitted as much in his private diary, which was captured by opposition forces during the Second Restoration and preserved for posterity.
Doughty, Dr. Virgil. The Reign of Fire: The Irish Revolution and the Bradley-Edwards Conspiracy. Oxford: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
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PRINCE ANTON-PHILIPPE DEAD, FRENCH SUCCESSION IN DOUBT
PARIS - The heir to the French throne, 22 year-old Prince Anton-Philippe, has died due to complications from Flu, reportedly the same sickness that has waylaid Queen Victoria II since before her mother’s assassination last month. This loss would be tragic in and of itself, but it now creates a major succession crisis. King Louis XIX has no other sons, and France does not allow for females to take the throne. In theory, the new heir to the Bourbon throne in Paris is the infant son of King Maximilian III of Bavaria and his French bride, Queen Geneviève, the daughter of Louis XIX. However, such a combination of the French and Bavarian crowns is likely to upset the delicate balance of power between France and Prussia, if not outright shattering it. With the European situation becoming quite dire due to events in Britain and Ireland, renewed tensions between France and Prussia could mean serious trouble for Europe.
“Prince Anton-Philippe Dead, French Succession in Doubt,” Franklin Observer, August 20, 1899.
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King Louis XIX, 46 years old and a widow, was faced with a terrible dilemma when his only son and heir died on August 20, 1899. With the prospect of producing a new child and heir beyond unlikely, he could either declare his grandson, Prince Georg Maximilian Ludwig of Bavaria, as his heir and severely sour relations with Prussia, or hand over the throne to a secondary branch of the family, ending the primary Bourbon line that had ruled France since the restoration in 1814. The King is said to have spent weeks in consultation with advisors from all over France, and Europe, with foreign ambassadors streaming into and out of the palace. In the end, the King chose his grandson, forever sealing the fate of hundreds of thousands that would ultimately be affected by his choice.
On September 2, 1899, King Louis XIX announced that his grandson would be his heir, and that he would travel to Munich by the end of the month for a formal ceremony, and to confer with his daughter and son-in-law. Prussia wasted no time. On September 7th, King Frederick William announced that a formal combination of the French and Bavarian monarchies would be considered an attack on the sovereignty of all Germans, and Prussia, as the most powerful German nation, would be forced to intervene and restore Bavarian independence. The people of Europe waited anxiously to see what would happen next. Ten days later, the French monarch arrived in Munich amid great fanfare and a public welcome by his son-in-law. On September 20, Prince Georg was declared the official heir to the French throne. That evening, a telegram was sent from Berlin: At the stroke of midnight on the 22nd of September, a state of war would exist between Prussia and France if King Louis XIX did not rescind his choice.
He did not, and on September 22nd, 1899, The Great European War began.
Pierce, Dr. Frank. The Greatest War. Franklin: UUS Press House, 1999.
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DUBLIN BURNS!
DUBLIN - In the wake of the attack and assassination of Queen Victoria in July, the city of Dublin has strained under harsh military occupation. Thousands have been arrested, all supposedly members of the IPP and all allegedly having some connection to the assassin, Peter Walsh, who was hanged last week for his murder of the Queen. The government of Prime Minister Jonathan Bradley claims that Walsh was just a cog in a larger Irish conspiracy to overthrow the crown government in Ireland. Yesterday, the IPP attempted to stage a massive peaceful demonstration in the city center. Throngs of people came out into the street to protest the heavy-handedness of British authorities, and the military was called out to disperse the masses. An altercation occurred and shots were fired, leading to dozens dead in the street. A massive riot ensued, and several large fires broke out, whether by accident or design, and now they have converged into one large conflagration. Thousands are fleeing for their lives, but the military is preventing some evacuation, causing further loss of life.
“Dublin Burns!” Boston Eagle, October 3, 1899.
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BRITISH GOVERNOR OF TOKYO ASSASSINATED
TOKYO, JAPAN - The British governor of the port city of Tokyo, Hiram Peters, has been assassinated by Japanese communalists, who have taken to the streets to call for revolts. There are rumors of riots and even uprisings in several other British possessions in Japan, along with the states of the so-called “Free Japanese Daimyo.” From what is being reported, it seems as though the various different underground political movements in Japan, that run the gamut from wanting to restore true power to the Japanese emperor, to the communalists who want to give full power to the people and strip the feudal lords of all standing, have all risen up together against British authority in the Far East island realm. With rebellion simmering in Ireland, and Queen Victoria II still incapacitated, it is unclear how the Empire will respond.
“British Governor of Tokyo Assassinated,” Astoria Herald, December 3, 1899.
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LIBS UNDER FIRE FOR SOFT STANCE ON RADICALISM
ST. LOUIS - At a rally for the Nationalist Party, Senator Benjamin Norton, the current frontrunner for the Nationalist nomination for the presidency, decried recent statements by key Liberal politicians in regards to the recent radical unrest in Ireland, Japan, and elsewhere. “As the world abroad slips into violence, war, and revolt, our own Liberal colleagues in government refuse to distance themselves from these radicals. The former First Secretary Gary Sanderson, my likely opponent in November, was asked the other day what he thought about those revolutionaries in Ireland, who’ve declared open rebellion against our ally Great Britain, and he said, that the Irish people had a legitimate reason to rebel. Need I remind you, ladies and gentlemen, that it was these same New England liberals who rebelled against our own government forty years ago, and dragged us into 3 years of civil war. Can we really trust these folks to continue to govern? In the past six years, the Beck administration and his Liberal friends in Congress have attempted to completely toss our society on its ear and remake it in their own, twisted image. Can we allow them to continue?” At this question, the crowd in St. Louis roared no, and the senator continued on from there.
All over the country, Liberals are on the defensive thanks to recent developments abroad and the swift pace of reform that they pushed through here at home. It seems likely that the Liberals will have a tough fight ahead this November if they hope to not suffer major losses at the ballot box.
“Libs Under Fire for Soft Stance on Radicalism,” Brooklyn Standard, April 3, 1900.
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SANDERS AMENDMENT PASSES
FORT CALHOUN - In a surprise twist, the Platte State Legislature has approved the Sanders Amendment, the 29th state to do so, meaning that the amendment has passed 3/4ths majority of the states. This 22nd amendment to the Constitution of United States grants women the right to vote on par with men, meaning that as long as a woman is a citizen of the United States, is 21 years old, and has been a resident of her current state for at least a year, she can vote in any election, and hold office. Elizabeth Cady-Bower, President of the National Women’s Suffrage Association, had tears in her eyes as she announced the results to a gathered crowd at the NWSA’s national headquarters in Franklin: “Ladies, we have won our right to be heard in the public sphere. Now go out and make yourselves heard, loud and clear!”
“Sanders Amendment Passes,” Franklin Observer, June 2, 1900.
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The Election of 1900 became a clear referendum on the Liberal leadership of the past 6 years under President Beck, and under Gary Sanderson, the former First Secretary and Liberal Party nominee for the presidency. Sanderson and his running mate, Governor Chase McIntire of Rhode Island, had to battle on two fronts. Federalist Alexander Fleak, Governor of Pennsylvania, and his running mate, Senator Peter Landon of Alabama, decried the rapid pace of the Liberal reforms, saying they had expanded the Federal government too far, too fast. They promised to hold back the expansion and try to reverse it wherever responsible. In addition, they campaigned hard on an anti-radical, pro-peace agenda that was popular with many. The Nationalist, on the other hand, would make no peace-pledge. Led by Senator Benjamin Norton of Virginia and his running mate Henry Hobbs, Senator from Jefferson, the Nationalists said that the status quo in Europe, and the stability it provided the world, should be maintained, and America should do its part to support those powers via trade and diplomacy. And on the home front, the Nationalists promised to dismantle the most radical reforms of the Beck era.
The campaign trail was an ugly one, with harsh rhetoric used by all sides. In the end, no one party would win an absolute majority. Fleak won the most votes, at 223, but well below the required 292 electoral votes needed to secure the presidency outright. In second place came Liberal Gary Sanderson at 198 (a shocking 101 electoral votes lower than President Beck had won in 1894), followed by Senator Norton with 160 electoral votes. On November 12, Representative Sanderson announced that he was giving his 198 votes to Fleak, securing him the presidency. This would also be the second time an African American would hold the Vice Presidency. Historians differ as to the exact cause of Fleak’s win. Most had suspected that Norton would actually win or get second place and then get the support of the Federalists (which most people at the time expected to be in third). The most compelling theory is that the passage of the 22nd Amendment, granting women the right to vote, prevented the arch-conservative Norton from ultimately gaining the Presidency. Norton himself subscribed to this theory, and it has been widely researched and has some solid basis in the voting polling done in the aftermath.
Walker, Dr. Diana. 1900: Liberalism and Nationalism Battle for the Century. Franklin: UUS Press House, 2011.
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Enjoy!
One small-ish note, in the last "wider world" update, I said that the daughter of the French King married King Max III in 1882. Problem being, King Louis was only in his late 20s at this point, too young to have kids of the marrying age. So I've struck that from that update, and moved the marriage up, as it was still an important plot device.
