Balance of Power (Gameplay Thread) - Epilogue and Game Over

[Cranberry]

I gladly come to visit Constantinople. After my visit of Warsaw, I would dearly come to your court, mani Sultan!

OOC: As I said, I could "mediate" between them

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Propaganda

- Our domestic projects and foreign activity has proven a success. We will carry on with these reforms, which shall bring even more prosperity and security to the Empire.

- Soon, Nicholas the Damned will be thrown back to hell, from where he originates. There, he will pay for all his sins against the world, exposed to the most atrocious tortures by the Devil himself for all eternity.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

There is growing feeling around the world that the former Tsar of Russia should be held accountable for his high crimes against peace and that justice for causing death of hundreds of thousands good people can only be served with his own blood, soaking through the wood of the scaffold.

However, in our generosity, we are prepeared to offer him an asylum in the Ottoman Empire, provided he would abandon his mad cause now, before deciding for a next unnecessary battle.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

lol

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

lol

Very well, insolent man. We hope you will retain your good humor when facing your maker.

[CLARENCE 2015!]

Nicaragua Canal

I agree to President Santos's proposal and I thank him for his cooperation
This canal will be a major boost not only to the USA- but to all of world trade.... The USA agrees to assume defense of the canal to ensure there is no disruption in trade

[CLARENCE 2015!]

Case for Republican Re-Election

For the past eight years- President McKinley has led our nation through rapidly changing times... together, we have faced war, national tragedy, and challenge after challenge. We have emerged stronger then ever before- a leading nation of the world. Militarily, economically, culturally- we have closer bonds to the other nations of the world then ever before

Now- we have the chance to elect a ticket which represents the best our party has to offer. First- Treasury Secretary Robert LaFollette is a fighter for the consumer and against trusts which seek to run our economy....he is a progressive who will lead the next Republican administration's domestic efforts. Finally- Secretary of State John Hay is already a statesman the likes of Washington and Lincoln. His service to Lincoln during the most challenging time in our nation's history led to a lifetime of building American power and prestige. Moving out of an era of war into an era of peace- we need a leader like John Hay

Give us Republican majorities in the House and Senate and you will see America continue to rise

[CLARENCE 2015!]

On Japan

I would like to formally state that the USA bears no ill will towards Japan for a separate peace- while we wish we would have been consulted beforehand, we know that allies are bound to have different interests at times and Japan has been a trustworthy ally overall and one incident does not affect our mutual commitment to the alliance

[Morning in Atlas]

To: The United States of America
From: The Kingdom of Italy

We would like to offer an alliance between our two nations to signify our friendship and cooperation over the last few years.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

OOC: It's kinda funny that everybody makes alliances with everybody, yet the game is so unpredictable xD

[Dr. Cynic]

France announces that in order to aid our friend Italy who has worked closely with us in Morocco, we will be handling the resupply duties for Italian troops for the time being. So, all munitions and weapons factories are put on an extra shift in order to meet the demands.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Now the missing stuff:

Economy

Having reviewed our finances, we have concluded that it is neither right, nor wise, that our court, especially the Harem, is spending such sums of money when our people are making great efforts to rebuild the country. Therefore, we order the costs be reduced by a half and saved funds be used to finance important state projects.

Our brave soldiers are fighting in the trenches of Bulgaria and our workers tirelessly building new roads, so our courtiers can surely make some sacrifices on their own.


The Ottoman Empire is not interested in seeking colonies, as we have enough pressing matters to attend at home (and, as Libyan example showed, it's difficult to hold distant areas when our Navy is still being reconstructed). What we are interested in is securing trade outposts to revitalize our trade.

We thereby order an establishment of the Ottoman Trade Authority, which shall coordinate our national trade policy, research and seek new routes, maintain our commercial fleet, etc.

Most importantly, as we are approaching closer and closer to gaining a valuable outpost in Morocco, the OTA shall be responsible for maintaining the area, building a modern port, markets and exchange center there.


Foreign Affairs:

As our dear brother, Mehmed Vahideddin, has left for a diplomatic mission to Ibn Saud, we would like to ask our British friends (since Arabia is their protectorate) to take appropriate measures to ensure his safety.

Obviously, we do not expect that any harm can come upon our brother, the prince of the Ottoman Empire, from the Saudis or other prominent clans, but the area can be dangerous.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Morocco

Our commitment to aid our French and Italian allies in Morocco remains unaffected and we are ready to send another regiment of our Naval Infantry to strength the allied forces.

Meanwhile, given our problems with logistics (damn Navy still being rebuilt), we would greatly appreciate some assistance with supplies.

[Dr. Cynic]

Morocco

Our commitment to aid our French and Italian allies in Morocco remains unaffected and we are ready to send another regiment of our Naval Infantry to strength the allied forces.

Meanwhile, given our problems with logistics (damn Navy still being rebuilt), we would greatly appreciate some assistance with supplies.

France will provide some assistance in this regard. We will send you supplies and we will fill orders for ships for your Navy (though, given that France has never been the kind of naval power that say Britain is).

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Morocco

Our commitment to aid our French and Italian allies in Morocco remains unaffected and we are ready to send another regiment of our Naval Infantry to strength the allied forces.

Meanwhile, given our problems with logistics (damn Navy still being rebuilt), we would greatly appreciate some assistance with supplies.

France will provide some assistance in this regard. We will send you supplies and we will fill orders for ships for your Navy (though, given that France has never been the kind of naval power that say Britain is).

OOC: Well, your navy when compared to ours is like Paris compared to Tirana.

Damn you, Lord Salisbury, for sinking my fleet!

[CLARENCE 2015!]

To: The United States of America
From: The Kingdom of Italy

We would like to offer an alliance between our two nations to signify our friendship and cooperation over the last few years.

Seeing your positive cooperation with our mutual allies- I am happy to support such an alliance... perhaps you could propose the terms and my successor who takes office next turn can be the one to affix his signature

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I gladly come to visit Constantinople. After my visit of Warsaw, I would dearly come to your court, mani Sultan!

We will be deligted to host Your Imperial Majesty.

[Spamage]

Morocco

Our commitment to aid our French and Italian allies in Morocco remains unaffected and we are ready to send another regiment of our Naval Infantry to strength the allied forces.

Meanwhile, given our problems with logistics (damn Navy still being rebuilt), we would greatly appreciate some assistance with supplies.

France will provide some assistance in this regard. We will send you supplies and we will fill orders for ships for your Navy (though, given that France has never been the kind of naval power that say Britain is).

OOC: Well, your navy when compared to ours is like Paris compared to Tirana.

Damn you, Lord Salisbury, for sinking my fleet!

[Lumine]

OOC: I tried my best to make it plausible (but with some elements added for fun) with the limited resources and time I had, I hope it's a satisfactory election!

United States Presidential Election, 1904:

Overview:

It was truly a clash of titans. Before the constitutional crises a landslide was expected for McKinley's third term, but the President soon grew unpopular with many sectors of America and he chose to give Sec. Hay his chance, seeing Hay sucessfully nominated at the convention with Robert La Follette as his running mate (in a ticket very similar to McKinley/Roosevelt). On the other hand, the Democrats had a slightly chaotic convention, but they managed to unite behind Gov. Alexander Monroe Dockery and Rep. William Randolph Hearst, trying to combine many of the Democratic factions while appealing to William Jennings Bryan's legacy.

While La Follette took a speaking tour Hay chose to play elder statesman and remain in Washington, confiding in his chances. Dockery was not as active and efficient in the trail as Bryan was, but he still managed to draw large crowds while Hearst's media empire trashed Hay and the Administration over their policies. With immigrants supporting Dockery and the Democrats energized to win the White House back, the result was closer than expected.

Electoral Map:

Sec. of State John Hay (R-NH)/ Sec. of the Treasury Robert La Follete (R-WI)- 47.6%; 263 EV
Gov. Alexander Monroe Dockery (D-MO)/ Rep. William Randolph Hearst (D-NY)- 44.2%; 213 EV
Former State Sen. Eugene Debs (S-IN) / Mr. Benjamin Hanford (S-NY)- 3.3%; 0 EV
Former Representative Thomas E. Watson (Populist-GA)/ Mr. Thomas Tibbles (Populist-NE)-  2.8%; 0 EV
Mr. Silas C. Swallow (Prohibitionist-PA)/ Mr. George W. Carroll (Prohibitionist-TX)- 2.1%; 0EV

In the end, Dockery and Hearst were not able to beat Hay at the polls, but they did great in comparison to earlier elections, narrowly winning New York back and getting close to winning Montana and Nevada as well. A big suprise was the surge for third parties, with some dissafected conservatives joining the Prohibitionists, some dissafected progressives joining Eugene Debs's growing Socialist Party, and the biggest surprise: the revival of the Populist Party at the hands of the charismatic Thomas Watson, who multiplied the support of the almost dead party by attacking Hay and achieving significant sucess in the West.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

United States House and Senate, 1904:

Overview:

President William McKinley's second term ended up being less easy than the first, having to face unprecedented foreign crises and a constitutional crises that ended up in a short-lived impeachment attempt. His Presidency can be summed up as a sucess in many ways, but he leaves a divided legacy among many Americans, and it remains to be seen if Hay will have the necessary charisma to keep the Republican Party together. The Senate was obviously going for the Republicans, but the House was truly competitive this year thanks to the massive amounts of immigrants voting for Dockery and the energized progressives of La Follette. In the end, the Republicans managed to increase their seats by four, holding the House for two more years.

Senate:
Republican Party: 54 (+1 Silver Republicans, -2 Defeats)
Democratic Party: 35 (+2 Pick-Ups)

House:
Republican Party: 209 (+4)
Democratic Party: 176 (-4)

Speaker Joseph Cannon will be reelected, and President Hay will enjoy from having solid majorities in both chambers for his first term. Alas, balancing the interests between conservatives and progressives won't be easy, and the Populists and Socialists will do their best to start winning House seats in 1906.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

We would like to offer our heartfelt congratulations to President-elect Hay. We are confident the historic American-Ottoman friendship will not only continue, but grow stronger, with such an able statesman, whose record as Secretary of State is most impressive and whom we had an honor of hosting in Constantinopole, firmly at the helm.

[Dr. Cynic]

France extends congratulations to the new President-elect and we look forward to working with his administration in the future.

[CLARENCE 2015!]

Thank you both very much....


Expect an official statement from President Hay by tomorrow night

[Lumine]

Polish King Election, 1904:

Overview:

It's easy to call what transpired in Poland a curious event, as it was Germany (and by extension the Prussian Junkers as well) that gave Poland it's awaited independence, thus creating the Kingdom of Poland. The nation had to deal with the trouble of minorities, the lack of sea access and the rivalry between Pilsudski and Dmowski (and let's not even mention the enormous number of Poles who wished for a Republic). In the end, Wilhelm III and Bulow chose to take the more efficient approach and forced Dmowski and Pilsudski to collaborate, all while not intervening on the outcome of the election. This was probably a wise option that avoided resentment among the Poles, but it was not easy to force the political rivals to collaborate. In the end, the fear of the Russians and the assertive moves of the Germans were enough to give some strength to the new Polish government, and a decent numbers of Poles went to the polls to elect their King (with a Parliamentary election scheduled for next year).

Since the Kaiser chose not to back Prince Adalbert and Austria was too weak to force Archduke Charles Stephen through, both candidates lost by wide margin along with Prince Poniatowsky (who only had his name as an asset). As a result, the real election was contested among Prince Sapieha and Prince Czartoryski, with the second winning by a narrow margin. Prince Sapieha and the other candidates conceded the race, and the government, the aristocracy and the army joined together to crown King Adam Ludiwk of Poland in Warsaw. The young King (32 years old) and his Queen Maria will have the hard task to organizing the Polish state and bringing actual popularity to the Monarchy, all while trying to strike a balance between the two more important candidates for Prime Minister.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Italian General Election, 1904:

Overview:

This election was never in doubt since the beginning, and it marked the success of the Prime Minister Giolitti/King Vittorio Emmanuele duo that managed to lead Italy into massive changes. With the King providing the necessary support and with the first strong Prime Minister in years, both men were able to revive the Italian economy while giving further strength to the army and keeping enemies at bay, all while getting Trieste and Somaliland. The anarchists and some radical socialists are still making trouble, and the body count of the Mafia War grows higher each day, but the Italians were ready to support Giolitti and back the popular King.

Turatti and Tittoni fought as hard as they could, and the appearance of Catholic candidates for the first time in a while (in no doubt thanks to Pope Albert's reorganization of the Church) made the election interesting to a degree, but it was awfully predictable.

Results:

Giolitti Coalition:
-Liberal Party: 351 (+55)
-Radical Party: 29 (-6)
-Republican Party: 26 (-3)

Other:
-Historical Right: 71 (-45)
-Socialist Party: 26 (-7)
-Catholic Bloc: 6 (+6)

As a result, Giovanni Giolitti has a Super-Majority in Parliament and is reelected Prime Minister. Of course, with the Liberal Party so large there are many Deputies who wish to stab Giolitti and get rid of him at the first opportunity, but as long as things go fine then the Prime Minister should be able to keep his party under control.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

We are most delighted with King Adam Ludwik's accession to the Polish throne. The House of Czartoryski had long been a friend of the Sublime Porta and we are confident that this historical friendship will soon enter a new chapter.

Also, the Ottoman Empire was the only state that did not recognize a forced disestablishment of the Polish state in 1795. And that is why we are even more pleased with its spectacular rebirth.

[Cranberry]

The Kaiser congratulates President-Elect Hays to his election, and hopes that it will strengthen the American-German relationship.

The Kaiser also gladly congratulates Adam I Ludwik of the House of Czartoryski to his election as King of Poland. I will take an express train to Warsaw and first talk with Poland's new king in private, and then hold a speech before the Polish people.