Georgiana Sapoutizakis, Ninth President of the Byzantine Republic
Inaugurated March 19th, 1850
The Republic has won a great victory— perhaps the greatest victory since the heady days of Noor Sallajer. Now that we have proven ourselves the greatest nation in the world, we must consider what to do with this power. In addition, we must consider how to face those threats and challenges which still lie before us— the end of the Victorian League as we knew it, the presence of absolutist reactionaries on our very doorstep in Hungary, the possibility of a French resurgence, continued disunity in Italy, the Pretender Emperor in Rhodes, rivalry with China— the list goes on and on.
As, in this present era of good feelings, we are all— or almost all— ladies and gentlemen of the Capitolino, I am confident that this Assembly will be able to reach a consensus about our future plans in an organized, civilized, and cooperative way.
Thank you.
President Sapoutizakis sweeps out of the room. Everyone starts talking over one another immediately.
DAY ONE: THE FUTURE OF THE VICTORIAN LEAGUE
We must continue our unflinching support of the Holy Roman Empire. It is the morally correct course of action— were the Imperials true friends of ours, or simply tools to be discarded at our leisure? Brothers and sisters of Byzantium yearning for liberty from the hated de Valois-Vexin, or a cudgel to beat Versailles about the head with? Or, if only cool pragmatism moves you, consider the following— the Holy Roman Empire is a vigorous Continental ally, with a powerful presence on land. British landings across the Channel, while important for diverting French forces from other fronts, were never decisive on their own.
##Support the Exiled Russian Intellectual
Great Britain was the first true friend the Republic ever had— I’m sure everybody remembers the difficulties of the early years of the Republic, when nations like the Ayiti Federation allied or betrayed us according to their whimsy. That changed when Golden Revolution placed Victoria III on the throne and the world saw that the awakening of European liberty would not be confined to the ruins of Old Rome. Moreover, Great Britain is modern power— their power straddles two continents, their navy can compete with even the empires of Avalon, and their industrial capacity dwarfs that of even France. They are useful allies in war— their control over the North Sea allows them to strike at the heart of the Continent, whilst their home territories are entirely unassailable. They will prove a moderating influence on the world, rather than plunging half the world into wars against France every five years. And, as a true multinational society, in which Scots, English, and Welsh all peaceably share an island, they are a refutation to the ugly nationalism which seeks to overthrow our Republic.
##Support the Gentleman Physician
I don’t see why this has to be such a big deal. It’s not the first time we faced the prospect of being allied with two Great Powers simultaneously. You will remember that, early in her reign, Victoria III’s Great Britain was not numbered among the great powers of the world, and the Republic pursued an alliance with the Somalian Republic. When Britain ascended to the status of Great Power, we, for a time, maintained an alliance with both them and the Somalians. Eventually, we issued a call to arms which the British accepted and the Somalians refused. Our alliance with Somalia ended, and our alliance with Britain endured. Let us again let things take their natural course and let fate decide the fortunes of the Victorian League.
##Support the Suspected Crypto-Discordian
##Support the Exiled Russian Intellectual
crimea
Brutus Salad
TheMcD
Redeye Flight
4
##Support the Gentleman Physician
Juvenalian.Satyr
AdventFalls
Tulip
StrifeHira
420 Gank Mid
Frontspac
Ogianres
HiHo ChiRho
GSD
WeaponGradeSadness
Rubix Squid
Readingaccount
Aeromancia
cokerpilot
Akratic Method
NewMars
Talas
16
##Support the Suspected Crypto-Discordian
theblastizard
ZearothK
RZApublican
QuoProQuid
GunnerJ
Sky Shadowing
frankenfreak
Lord Cyrahzax
Hitlers Gay Secret
loquacius
Patter Song
Chwoka
Jalak
sniper4625
Gravity Cant Apple
Jimmy4400nav
LowellDND
Dry Hump
GoatLord
ThatBasqueGuy
Sindai
21
DAY TWO: MILITARY PRIORITIES
(OOC: Regardless of which wins, I’ll try to get that last province back from Bulgaria eventually, but they’re still in France’s sphere so that might take a while)
Destiny calls us east, gentlemen and ladies! We have already liberated so much of the old Roman Empire— let us bring freedom to the peoples of the Old Roman East. If Da Qin wishes to claim the mantle of Rome, let them contend with Rome’s destroyers. Cilicia will be free. And after that– the Holy Land? Arabia? The sky’s the limit, friends!
##Support the Bearded Grognard
Counter-revolution lurks on our very doorstep! Hungary has fallen to cruel reactionaries and suffers under the tyranny of an absolute despot! The time has come to secure a more defensible northern frontier for the Republic— oh, and bring democracy to the Hungarians. Whatever!
##Support the Industrious Philanthropist
The most pressing threat to our state is Italian nationalism, which threatens to tear some of the richest and most densely populated poleis from the breast of the Republic. Ferrara has even fallen directly under the sway of these anarchists! The only solution is the true unification of Italy— under Byzantine governance. Ferrara, Siena, Lombardy— these cities no more deserve the title of “state” than Rome, Pisa, or Florence. Anyway, if we don’t take them, the French probably will, eventually.
##Support the Coffeehouse Intellectual
Perhaps the time has come to adopt a more defensive posture? Our power rests not upon the soldier’s sword, but the diplomat’s pen, after all. Alienating our network of patronage and alliances through bellicose actions would be as disastrous for us as losing the territory directly has been for the French. We must bide our time.
##Support the Prudent Diplomat
##Support the Bearded Grognard: 5
420 Gank Mid
Rejected Fate
HiHo ChiRho
Ghetto Prince
LowellDND
##Support the Industrious Philanthropist: 1
Juvenalian.Satyr
##Support the Coffeehouse Intellectual: 30
ZearothK
Sindai
Flesnolk
GunnerJ
Hitlers Gay Secret
TinTower
frankenfreak
Luhood
Jeoh
Espilae
Cestrian
Alikchi
dongsbot 9000
loquacius
Chief Savage Man
Rahmbo
Blackunknown
Into Space
Zikan
RZApublican
Lord Cyrahzax
Glenn Zimmerman
T___A
paragon1
theblastizard
AdventFalls
Fox Ironic
Ghostwoods
Dry Hump
Grizzwold
##Support the Prudent Diplomat: 30
tatankatonk
GSD
GoatLord
Adept Nightingale
Ogianres
StrifeHira
NewMars
cokerpilot
Rubix Squid
Caustic Soda
TheMcD
Rumda
Archaeology Hat
Talas
Shadow gamer
WeaponGradeSadness
Jimmy4400nav
Tulip
Lynneth
crimea
JT Jag
sheep-dodger
sloshmonger
Magni
D3m3
Patter Song
Hutter
Arbitrary Coin
Pacho
mcclay
##Damn the specifics, just conquer SOMETHING!: 6
Readingaccount (grognard/coffeehouse but those are the two most popular ones anyway so i’m just lumping it in here)
ThatBasqueGuy
Packyy
Chwoka
QuoProQuid
sniper4625
DAY 3: REFORMS
On the off-chance we unlock another reform while the Capitolino is in power, which should it be?
The polis is a fine institution for local governance, but why is it the basis for the elections to our upper house? Why does Trebizond get as many upper house assembly members as Thrace? Madness. Let us elect our upper house based on population instead.
##Support the Federalist Paper Miller
Now, look here, people are starting to ask questions about all of these 99.5% election results for our party. If we switched to a proportional system of representation, we’d look a lot more legitimate, while still winning by wide margins.
##Support the Semi-reputable Jurist
Reform? Reform? As the Capitolino, we are the stewards of the most perfect union of the world! If the Upper House makes noise about further political reform– ignore them!
##Support the Confident Statesman
I literally don’t care what we do, as long as we do something and don’t support that last guy.
##Support the Reform-Minded Reformer
Vote closed!
DAY 3: REFORMS
On the off-chance we unlock another reform while the Capitolino is in power, which should it be?
##Support the Federalist Paper Miller
Luhood
Lynneth
Ghostwoods
ThaumPenguin
##Support the Semi-reputable Jurist
tatankatonk
RZApublican
Juvenalian.Satyr
Ghetto Prince
Flesnolk
loquacius
catlord
AdventFalls
420 Gank Mid
Talas
Clayren
HiHo ChiRho
Jimmy4400nav
mcclay
Adept Nightingale
Frontspac
LowellDND
GoatLord
Unwise_Cashew
Rejected Fate
WeaponGradeSadness
Caustic Soda
Pacho
Brutus Salad
Beerdeer
Danny Glands
sheep-dodger
cokerpilot
##Support the Confident Statesman
sniper4625
Zikan
Chwoka
Rumda
Mantis42
Lord Cyrahzax
Glenn Zimmerman
Readingaccount
TheMcD
ZearothK
Duckbag
PleasingFungus
AJ_Impy
##Support the Reform-Minded Reformer
ThatBasqueGuy
StrifeHira
GunnerJ
Tulip
theblastizard
GSD
paragon1
Rubix Squid
QuoProQuid
Dry Hump
frankenfreak
Jeoh
NewMars
Archaeology Hat
Ogianres
Proportional Voting Wins! You know, if we get another reform before our entire country is burned to the ground.