Commons and Colonies: A Very British Civ4 RP, Circa 1862

[beargrowlz]

Commons and Colonies

A Civ4 BTS Roleplaying Dynasty of the government of the United Kingdom of England, Scotland and Wales from 1862. The dynasty will not hold true to history and is likely to grow further from actual events as time goes on.

That's the fun of it.

History begins in the Spring of 1862 with the UK being a two-party state. Liberal Henry Palmerston forms a majority government with William Gladstone his main rival in the Liberal party serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The Liberal Cabinet (Spring, 1862)
Prime Minister: Henry Palmerston (LIB)
Chancellor of the Exchequer: William Gladstone (LIB)
Foreign Secretary: John Russell (LIB)
Home Secretary: Granville Leveson-Gower (LIB)
Secretary of State for Defense: Edward Seymour (LIB)
Secretary of State for the Colonies: Henry Pelham-Clinton (LIB)

The Liberals hold 301 of 501 seats in the House of Commons followed by the Tories with 201. The Labour Party is just now experiencing the birth pangs of it as a political entity - too early to be called a party as of yet - but we'll do so anyway. Union organizer Alexander Macdonald serves as de facto leader, but again the party has 0 seats in the Commons.

Queen Victoria has until Spring of 1867 to drop the writ for a general election, but governments of the day rarely wait until the last minute to head to the polls, preferring to ask the Queen to call an election at a time advantageous to the government. We'll be playing with some ground rules however.

Each turn of the game is three months, so we'll be playing quarterly.

Any government that calls an election that occurs prior to entering its fifth year in power will suffer a 4% dip in the polls for every quarter prior to the 5th year the election takes place. This does not apply to elections which occur due to no confidence votes in the House of Commons - there is no penalty if such an election occurs.

No party can drop or rise more than 10% in the polls in any quarter.

We'll fill in the rest as we go along.

As the new cabinet takes office, the American Civil War rages. Prime Minister Palmerston's sympathies lay with the Confederacy while Home Secretary Granville Leveson-Gower favors Britain remain neutral and non-interventionist. This question, balancing a horrific budget deficit and maintaining the colonies would be the major tasks at hand for the government.

Fall, 1862: As Gladstone desperately tries to balance the budget of a British Empire overextended - he gets some much needed help from Foreign Secretary John Russell who negotiates a number of trade agreements, the business of the Lineral Party is business after all - war breaks out in the far east, Japan taking on all comes it seems, notably Russia, China and the Ottoman Empire.

The Palmerston Government remains neutral and doesn't believe its vital interests are at stake.



As the first year of the Palmerston Government draws to a close in the Winter of 1863 conflict heats up between British Colonies in South Africa and Boer townships. There could be trouble looming for this commerce first leaning administration.

Winter, 1863: Secretary of State for Defense Edward Seymour has British troops seize Pretoria, but at such high casualty rates that the British public is alarmed at the high cost in blood of the war. The Tories slip in the polls, nnow leading the Liberals 56% to 39% and Prime Minister Palmerston decides it's time for a cabinet shuffle.

John Russell moves from the foreign office to defense, in what is normally a demotion but instead a commentary on the government's need for a military victory. Russell takes the move in stride and sets out to win the Boer War once and for all.

Granville Leveson-Gower moves from the home office over to Whitehall - making it a virtual certainty now that britain won't intervene in the American Civil War - while Colonial Secretary Henry Pelham-Clinton, who has built up a very good record managing the colonies takes over home affairs. Seymour, the Defense Minister fallen from grace, gets the colonial portfolio for his trouble.

In the meantime, Gladstone has finally balanced the budget and has the kingdom operating in the black.

Fall, 1864: As the year 1864 draws to a close and the Liberals near the end of their third year in government progress has slogged down in South Africa. Short of forces on the ground Defense Minister John Russell has slowly been marshalling his forces to attack the remaining Boer stronghold at Pietersburg. While the Palmerston Government remains popular - particularly in Ireland - topping 60% in the polls, a military defeat could prove its unravelling.

Spring, 1865: Russell retreats to Pretoria in the face of overwhelming Boer superiority at Pietersburg. Palmerston, less than pleased, fires his onetime star when he was at the foreign office but who has since done nothing but dally, hesitate and retreat in South Africa while holding the defense portfolio. Backbencher George Gray replaces Russell, but there likely won't be any military action until the government can build up its forces on the ground, likely after the general election, which at palmerston's request, Queen Victoria has called for the Spring of 1866.


Palmerston sacks the once promising former Foreign Secretary, John Russell.

Palmerston, seeing his government's support slowly ebbing away, hopes to capture an electoral victory before the Tories are able to take advantage. The Liberals hold a 56% to 40% lead over the Tories with Labour candidates polling 4% - again unlikely to win any seats.

Pundtis are predicting Palmerston will pull it out and win with a reduced majority.

Spring, 1866: A rather calm general election - the most exciting event was a minor naval skirmish with a gunboat from the Chinese junta which threatens to break out into all out war. As expected the Liberals under Palmerston held on and won a reduced majority in the House of Commons.

General Election - Spring, 1866

Liberals 48% -- 281 seats
Tories 44% -- 220 seats
Labour 8% -- 0 seats

The incoming cabinet, Palmerston's second government, looks like the outgoing one.

Henry Palmerston's Second Liberal Government
Prime Minister: Henry Palmerston
Chancellor: William Gladstone
Foreign Secretary: Granville Leverson-Gower
Home Secretary: Edward Seymour (replaces the deceased Henry Pelham-Clinton)
Sec. of State for Defense: George Gray
Sec. State for the Colonies: Edward Cardwell

Summer, 1866: Three months into his second administration Prime Minister Henry Palmerston falls ill and dies. There's little doubt as to his successor however, Chancellor of the Exchequer William Gladstone runs unopposed for the Liberal leadership and takes over as Prime Minister.


William Gladstone takes over as PM.

With Palmerston's death so ends John Russell's banishment from cabinet as Gladstone appoints the former Foreign Secretary his new Chancellor. Some people's fortunes do rise with death.

The death of others anyway.

Spring, 1867: As the first year of the Gladstone Government comes to a close it was a relatively uneventful year. Sec. State for Defense George Gray continues to marhsall his forces for a climactic battle against the Boers, though he did topple the Hawaiian government and obtain a new colony for Britain. Honolulu's a good place to govern from in the winter months I hear.

One thing though, the United States federal government and the Confederacy came to a negotiated peace, leaving two americas.

Spring, 1868: Very little progress made in China or Africa - just minor skirmishes. John Russell at the treasury has the economy humming smoothly however. Tory leader Edward Smith-Stanley announces his retirement and is succeeded by Benjamin Disraeli. Disraeli has his work cut out for him as the Tories trail Gladstone and the Liberals in the polls, 54% to 42%.

Winter, 1869: As the new year dawns the Tories under Disraeli have closed the gap in the polls to 48% to 45%. Gladstone and the Liberals however are banking on George Gray winning a decisive victory in South Africa before they have to go to the country and the Liberals will be hoping voters remember John Russell's handling of the economy and Home Secretary Edward Seymour's reasearch and development efforts. The Liberals don't need to call an election for at least another 15 months and they may wait the full term unless something positive breaks in South Africa.

Summer, 1869: Benjamin Disraeli's Tories have moved ahead of the Liberals in the polls for the first time this quarter, leading Gladstone's Liberals by a three point margin - 47% to 44%. Political pundits are saying the stalemate in South Africa and the phoney war in China could lead to the very real possibility of a majority Conservative government. Labour is once again expected to be a non-factor.


Will Disraeli be able to topple the Liberal juggernaut?

Winter, 1870: With the outstanding R&D efforts of Edward Seymour at the home office, a flurry of positive press has allowed the Liberals to sneak back ahead of Disraeli and the Tories 50% to 46%. Gladstone, after meeting with his cabinet, then met with the Queen and asked her to call an election for the Winter of 1871. As customary, Queen Victoria agreed and dropped the writ for the general election.

Despite the 4 point lead in the polls, and in spite of the fact it's difficult as hell to project an election 12 months out, most pundits think the Liberal bounce is a temporary one and that unless there's a military victory in South Africa we'll be looking at a Tory majority government come next winter.

One thing is for certain, win or lose, Disraeli and the Tories are going to lambaste the Gladstone Government over its inability to get the job done against the Boers.

[beargrowlz]

* * *
Spring 1870: Media intervention in this contest let it be known that this was no ordinary election, but rather one that could determine Britain's future as she heads into the 20th century.

* * *



One Defense Minister sacked, one shuffled away to play wetnurse to colonists in the marshes and then later to play bobbie in London towne and a third that dawdles and can't get cannon to Africa to beat a bunch of rabble-rousing faux Jerry's. With the likes of Palmerston, Gladstone and the Liberals in charge of the empire's defense, we should consider ourselves very fortunate there aren't a bunch of fenian or yank tourists in Picadilly or the queen would be abdicating and we'd be stuck with some awful republican style presidency.

Bring on Disreali, he'll win the war.

* * *



...add up the sound financial management under the Gladstone/Russell team, rapid and successful scientific advancement and growth in the British Isles thanks to the efforts of Home Secretary Edward Seymour and it's easy to see why Gladstone's Liberals have earned a third majority in the Commons come next winter.

* * *



When one group of politicos only care about keeping their banker friends in London happy and throwing our lads at the Boers without so much as a cannon to help and another group of pompous political elites wanting to throw even more British lads at the baddies, it's little wonder that it's the poor and working classes that do or die and the fat cats and wealthy that decide when and why.

Isn't it about time the working man had some representation in parliament?

* * *

[beargrowlz]

* * *

Spring, 1870: With the latest polls showing the Liberals and Tories in a dead heat - 48% Liberal to 47% Tories - the rhetoric on the campaign trail, normally placid and gentlemanly, grew more heated by the day.



Conservative Party Leader Benjamin Disreali, on the brink of winning a majority Tory government when the voters turf the Liberals, said in a stump speech today to loud cheers and gales of laughter, "We will beat the Boers. We will defeat the Chinese junta that attacks our shipping. And we will do it in our first government - and we'll remember to bring the cannon as well!"

After eight years of Liberal dawdling and putting British lives at risk, it's time to give the Tories a turn.

* * *

Summer, 1870: As the Chinese raiding of British shipping continues unabated the Liberals continue to tumble in the polls - Tories 50%, Liberals 44%. As reinforcements - including the much needed artillery companies - are set to make landfall in south africa, it appears a much needed military miracle from Secretary of State for Defense George Gray can't come too soon. But, will Gray be able to march on Pietersburg and the Boer army prior to election day?



As another British ship sinks slowly to the bottom of the sea from villanous Chinese bandits, one has to wonder whether the Liberal Secretary of State for Defense even knows where China is?

Meanwhile, Tory Leader Benjamin Disreali was on the attack once again today. "This government isn't fighting two wars at once, it's losing two wars at once. British boys sent into machine gun fire with no artillery support in south africa and British shipping raided and harassed without so much as the Gladstone government putting up a fight. And what does the Foreign Secretary do? That's a good question, what does the Foreign Secretary do? I know what we'll do if elected. We'll beat the Boers and old John Bull will teach the Chinese our shipping is off limits, that's what we'll do, and come election day that's just exactly what a Tory government will do."

* * *

[beargrowlz]

* * *

Fall, 1870: The Gladstone government is plainly tired. After ruling the empire for eight years the Liberals just seem plain out of energy. Their freefall in the polls continues, now trailing Disraeli and the Tories 51% to 42% and while Defense Minister George Gray finally has an army - equipped with three artillery companies - marching on Pietersburg, unless the Boers come out seeking a fight it won't get their before the general election, and that's the only thing that is going to save this government.

Domestically the Liberals have done fine. They've built buldings that create wealth and generate scietific progress, they've kept the people of the empire fed, but they've been singularly ineffective at dealing with foreign policy crises and their time has just run out.



We here at The telegraph can only sit and watch with amazement as the British public is taken in by the jingoistic rhetoric of Disraeli and his Tory mob. We're in economic boom times, scientific progress has never been better, and all anyone seems to care about is butchering some Boers and killing some Chinese - cost be damned.

The British public will be sorry - and the British Empire worse off - when they hand this Liberal government a defeat at the polls next month.

* * *

The candidates made their final appeals to the voters throughout the home islands.

Prime Minister William Gladstone (Liberal): "We're proud of our record in government and we stand by that record. The British people live better than we ever have before, the economy has never been in better shape and we're at the forefront of technology in the whole of Europe. The rabble rousing of the opposition may buy a cheap vote today, but at what cost to the British people? We Liberals stand for sound fiscal management and a careful, measured foreign policy - ideals which have always served the empire well. We'll continue to stand by those ideals."

Leader of the Opposition Benjamin Disraeli (Tory): "Day after day British soldiers and British sailors die at the hands of the Boers and the Chinese. When will this government act? Southern Africa suffers at the hands of Boer tyranny and the seas of the orient abound with Chinese warlords and pirates. When will this government act? From the looks of it, never! It's time to elect a government that will protect and defend the empire and the Tories will do so from day one! It's time for a change."

Labour organizer Alexander Macdonald: "It's high time working folks started voting for our own kind. The Liberals want to break our backs in the factories while the Tories want to break our bodies on the battlefield. Enough is enough. Join with me in supporting working class candidates for parliament so we can finally have a say in what happens in our lives.

As the candidates make their final appeals, political pundits nationwide are predicting a landslide Conservative majority government with the Liberals in opposition and prolabour candidates not winning the 15% needed to enter the commons.

* * *

[beargrowlz]

Winter, 1871: Secretary of State for Defense George Gray began tactical movements around the Boer township of Pietersburg preparing for a decisive attack likely to occur in the Summer or Fall of 1871. British forces should consist of 8 or so companies of redcoats, 2 companies of cavalry and 3 companies or artillery opposing 5 Boer cavalry companies, 2 Boer rifle companies and a machine gun unit. Whomever is the next Defense Minister is gioing to be facing heavy casulaties.

What looked like a Tory landslide was anything but as many voters, when confronted with the reality of casting their ballot chose to remain with the Liberals and Gladstone and the Liberal Party almost pulled off the upset of the century, losing by only 2%. Still, the Conservatives did barely win a majority government and Benjamin Disraeli now had to decide on a cabinet.

General Election - Winter, 1871
Tories 48% - 271 seats
Liberals 46% - 230 seats
Labour 6% - 0 seats

What looked like a landslide just last quarter in reality resulted in a mere 4% Tory swing with the Liberals only finishing 2% worse than they did in 1866, but that was enough to give the Tories a 21 seat majority. Pro-labour candidates attracted 6% of the vote - down 2 points from the last general election and far short of the 15% threshhold needed to win seats in the commons.

So what would Disraeli's first cabinet look like?

The new Prime Minister first and foremost needed a hawkish secretary of State for Defense. Normally this isn't a very prestigious post, but given the tenor to the general election and the Tory campaign's promises to resolve the conflicts in southern africa and China, it might be the most important post in the cabinet in this government. Disraeli thus selected the hawkish John Winston Spencer-Churchill to fill the defense post, counter balancing him with the very liberal Edward Stanley - son of Disraeli's predecessor as Tory Leader - as the Foreign Secretary. Thus Disraeli hoped to wield the sword of force and teach the Boers and Chinese a lesson and then have Stanley swoop in and secure a diplomatic solution to end the crises.

Disraeli's close friend and confidant, Richard Temple-Grenville, would join the cabinet as Colonial Secretary.

First Disraeli Tory Government
Prime Minister: Benjamin Disraeli
Chancellor of the Exchequer: George Hunt
Foreign Secretary: Edward Stanley
Home Secretary: Gathorne Hardy
Secretary of State for Defense: John Spencer-Churchill
Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs: Richard Temple-Grenville

The Disraeli's first task? Winning the Boer War.

* * *

[Buccaneer]

Extraordinary write-up, even if I didn't understand how much of that relates to a Civ4 game.

[beargrowlz]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Extraordinary write-up, even if I didn't understand how much of that relates to a Civ4 game.

Yeah, my bad. I concentratded a bit too much on story telling and left out the mechanics of the civ game. I'll try and add some of the game mechanics as well.

But thanks for the kind words.



Cheers,
-Bear

[beargrowlz]

* * *

Spring, 1871: As the new Tory Government took power, an ideological shift had occurred in British politics - perhaps without the voters even realizing it. During the nine years of the Palmerston/Gladstone Liberal Governments the United Kingdom had undertaken longterm public works projects geared towards growth and wealth creation - theatres, hospitals, ironworks, granaries - at home and among the colonies with the longterm goal of building and maintaining British hegemony throughout the world through the construction of a British economic empire. In many ways those governments had succeeded - but perhaps at the detriment of being able to fight brush wars as they broke out throughout the colonies, particularly in Africa and China.

With its narrow 2% win in the 1871 General Election, the Tories were now faced with a difficult dillemna. They had run for office - and won - on the platform of bringing order to the colonies in Africa and China through the use of military force. Hawks in the new cabinet such as Defense Minister John Spencer-Churchill and the PM's close friend Colonial Secretary Richard Temple Grover were pushing for an immediate halt to a number of the former government's long term projects and an immediate military buildup in order for the government of the day to be able to meet the military needs of the new government policy.


Secretary of State for Defense,
John Spencer_Churchill.

But Foreign Secretary Edward Stanley - a Tory by birth but an ideological Liberal soulmate - wanted to maintain the longterm economic growth policies. He saw the use of military force as a short term solution and believed the British Empire would be far better off not altering course too drastically - though it must be noted that he did not oppose the use of force in the Boer and Chinese situations, he just did not view them as long term difficulties.


Foreign Secretary Edward Stanley.

The battle for the heart and soul of the PM - and of the British Empire - was now underway.

As Defense Minister John Spencer-Churchill took over command of the South African Expeditionary Force and began a troop buildup which he planned to use in a major attack in Spring 12872, the first act of the Disraeli Government was introduced by Home Secretary Gathorne Hardy, who introduced Civics legislation changing the legal system to Nationhood - allowing the government to propogate conscription if necessary - and the religious system to a Christian Theocracy - providing more experience to new military recruits. The omnibus bill passed along party lines with the 271 Tories voting Aye and the oppostion 230 Liberals voting Nay.

In financial matters, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Hunt took command of a very healthy treasury with a surplus of 2713 gold and an income of 47 gold per turn. The budget was allocated 60% towards science with the rest flowing into government coffers. The new government didn;' plan any immediate changes to economic policy.


Chancellor of the Exchequer George
Ward Hunt planned few changes at
the Treasury.

Summer, 1871: Defense Minister Spencer-Churchill began the long process of a military buildup in Hong Kong, the first step in a painstaking process that he hoped would alleviate the "China Troubles"

Through the summer the political battle waged in Cabinet over whether or not to shift the building program from economic growth and wealth creation to a more militarily oriented construction program. Prime Minister Disraeli seemed partially won over by Foreign Secretary Stanley's pragmatism - and the still considerable power the son of the former Tory Leader's son still wielded in caucus - but a major military victory by Spencer-Churchill could swing the balance in his favor and lead to a significant change in policy.

* * *

[beargrowlz]

* * *

Fall, 1871: Defense Minister John Spencer-Churchill begins the siege of Pietersburg. In all likelihood the barricades and defenses around the Boer town should fall next quarter but Spencer-Churchill is dragging the process out for a greater political bump after the Disraeli Government's honeymoon period with the media wears off.

Winter, 1872: The Disraeli Government's year long honeymoon with the press comes to an end and it's approval ratings stand at 56%. Defense Minister Spencer-Churchill stands poised to strike at Pietersburg having reduced the city's defenses to 0. But there is a large Boer military contingent present and it won't be a cakewalk victory. It's not too much of a stretch to say that a defeat at Pietersburg could bring the government down despite it's majority status, and despite Queen Victoria's personal affections for the PM - and her animosity towards Liberal Party Leader William Gladstone.


Disraeli was clearly a favorite of the Queen.

Home Secretary Gathorne Hardy passes the final part of his religious legislation, making Chritistianity the official religion of the United Kindom, making the empire a chirtian theocracy. The bill passes along party lines, 271 Tories in favor, 230 Liberals opposed.


Home Secretary Gathorne Hardy completes his civic
reform programme.

Financially the Treasury appears to be in a healthy state on the surface with a surplus of 2907 and still banking 47 per turn, but because of the societal flux the Empire has been in during Home secretary Hardy's civic legislation it's difficult to tell where the empire really stands financially at this point.

"The Times", normally a reliably Tory leaning paper, released an editorial critical of the Disraeli Government - particularly Secretary of State for Defense John Spencer-Churchill - this quarter.



The troops have been amassed, the enemy's defenses reduced and there's simply no good reason for the Secretary of State for Defense to delay. The British public's patience is at an end. This government was elected to win the Boer War, not wait for an opportune political moment to strike. Playing politics with the realm's defense is inexcusable. The Secretary should be ashamed and resign, or barring that, the Prime Minister should sack him and replace him with someone serious about doing the job and beating the Boers.

Spring, 1872: The First Battle of Pietersburg takes place and is indecisive producing huge casualty totals on both sides. Pfrime Minister Benjamin Disraeli endorses the performance of Secretary of State for Defense John Spencer_Churchill stating, "We knew this was going to be a difficult task putting down this insurrection. The previous Liberal Government had allowed the Boers to run amok in South Africa for years and now this government is taking firm, decisive action where previous governments had taken none. The Defense Minister has put us in a position of strength from which we shall emerge victorious we suspect within the next six months. But anyone who thought this would be easy was fooling themselves. These rebels are dangerous and determined. But we are as equally determined to preserve our Pax Britainia."

Summer, 1872: Secretary of State for defense John Spencer-Churchill breaks the back of the Boer resistance at Pietersburg winning a major military victory for the British Army with few British casualties and heavy Boer losses in the second action against the Boer stronghold, which fell to Spencer-Churchill this quarter. Foreign secretary Edward Stanley is expected to follow up this major military victory with peace talks to end the conflict next quarter and the defense Minister is expected to turn his attention to the "China Troubles" where he began sending troops early in the life of the Government.

The Empire is in economic boom times as the Treasury now boats a 3271 surplus and is earning 67 goal per quarter thanks in large part to a foreign trade deal negotiated by the Foreign Secretary to sell furs to the Spanish for 12 gold per quarter.

On the home front British scientists are expected to have developed combustion technology by this time next year.

Fall, 1872: Foreign Secretary Edward Stanley successfully negotiates a peace treaty with the Boers and the once rebellious Boer Dree State agrees to become a British vassal. Both Stanley and Defense Minister John Spencer-Churchill have become rising stars within the Conservative Party.

The Government is experiencing some minor nuisance raids by brigands and terrosists in India. Secretary of State for the Colonies Richard Temple-Grenville has called for more military forces to be committed to the Indian subcontinent. At the moment that seems to be unlikely as the defense Minister has set his sights on the "China Troubles". The Liberal leaning "Daily Telegraph" was none too pleased about that.



There was great loss of life in the recently concluded South African Affair because the Tory government of the day did not prepare properly and rushed headlong into an offensive that turned young British boys into dead British bodies. Must this government repeat the same mistakes and watch our colonies in India suffer the same fate at the hands of brigands and pirates? India is the jewel in the crown of the British Empire, surely this government must realize that protecting the vital economic interests of British subjects in India should take priority over some Quixotic quest of an offensive in the far east.

* * *

[beargrowlz]

* * *

Winter, 1873: The problem with running a campaign on national security issues is that the voters come to expect complete national security, totally. While the Disraeli Government has settled the South African situation, two years into the first Tory Government the China Troubles still need to be resolved and the new situation with brigands and violent roving tribesmen in India remains to be settled. Thus the Tories settle into the Winter of 1873 sitting at 53% in the polls. Not a spectacular number, but if the election were held today they would win another majority government.

Prime Minister Disraeli's policy of allowing the projects of the former Gladstone Government to be completed prior to undertaking new builds - the policy championed by Foreign Secretary Stanley - has now resulted in the first Tory new builds. Secretary of State for Defense John Spencer-Churchill won his way in Cabinet and the government has begun building a new company of Redcoats - much to the chagrin of Colonial Secretary Richard Temple-Grenville, who was seeking a wealth creation or cultural expansion project. Temple-Grenville did get his way in Sydney, Australia where the government began building a new harbor. While Disraeli attempts to walk a fine line between the various projects of his ministers, the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Ward has not taken sides and has made his mark more in the style of his Liberal predecessors - hands off the economy and allow it to grow, to the tune of surplus of 3382 gold and earning 76 gold per quarter. But unless the China Troubles are dealt with quickly, it can be expected the Disraeli Government will use some of that gold in the Bank of England to finance more military units.

A British cavalry company won a small skirmish against a unit of tribal riflemen in India this quarter, an event certain to assuage the public's concern about the situation on the subcontinent.

Summer, 1873: British scientists develop the combustion technology paving the way for the possibilities of an expansive modernization of the Royal Navy. Defense Minister John Spencer-Churchill for just such a programme in Cabinet. The main opposition with Cabinet comes from onetime Spencer-Churchill ally Richard temple-Grenville, the Colonial Secretary, who wants more of the construction projects in the colonies to go towards cultural expansion, thereby creating more British territory. The PM has yet to take a decision on the matter.

Fall, 1873: With Chancellor of the Exchequer George Hunt's support of Secretary of State for Defense John Spencer-Churchill's naval builds project pulling the PM on board, the Home secretary began the construction of drydock facilities at Inverness - a longterm project which will culminate in the beginning of the modernization of the Royal Navy. Hunt has indicated he's seriously considering spending a portion of the government's gold surplus to hurry the naval programme along.

Winter, 1874: The Tories end their third year in government leading the Liberals in the polls 57% to 40%. For the time being the bandit problem in India has been put down and the treasury holds a surplus of 3256 and gaining 96 gold per quarter after Chancellor of the Exchequer George Hunt paid to complete Britain's first drydock early. Now will begin the naval building programme in earnest.

* * *

[beargrowlz]

* * *

Spring, 1874: With a 14 point lead in the polls over the Liberals Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli went to Buckingham Palace and asked Queen Victoria to call a General election for the Spring of 1875. The Queen was more than happy to accomodate disraeli, with whome she had become quite close friends with.

After the Writ was dropped, the Chinese continued their shelling of British colonies unabated and Chinese pirates destroyed some British fishing boats in the Gulf of China. All of a sudden what looked like an easy cakewalk to a second Tory Government looked a lot closer than planned.

Colonial Secretary Richard Temple-Grenville was getting his way in Canada and Australia, building harbors and granaries and starting major projects like Customs Houses. It was only in South Africa and India where he was doing battle with Defense Minister John Spencer-Churchill over whose projects would win the day.

Summer, 1874: Foreign Secretary Edward Stanley continues to make Britain into a "Nation of Shopkeepers" - in a good way. Stanley continues to conclude many a foreign trade deal keeping the Treasury happy. The only place where Stanley is stymied is with the French - the PM won't allow him to do a deal with the French as Disraeli continues to regard the French as Britain's most natural rival.

Fall, 1874: The Royal Navy fights its first battle against the Chinese ironclads haunting Hong Kong and Macao. British Ships of the Line, severely outmatched by the ironclads, nonetheless hold their own and Secretary of State for Defense John Spencer-Churchill was quoted as saying "Now, today, we begin the first chapter in bringing down oriental barbarism and their unprovoked attacks against the empire."

Winter, 1875: Chancellor of the Exchequer George Hunt continues his free spending on a defense buildup, spending to complete a Redcoat and Ship of the Line early. With the General Election just around the corner most polls show the Tories with a 10 point lead and headed for a second majority government.

Spring, 1875: No surprises here as expected the Conservative (Tory) Party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, won reelection with an increased majority of 10 seats in the House of Commons.

General Election - Spring, 1875

Tories 51% - 281 seats
Liberals 44% - 220 seats
Labour 5% - 0 seats

The election results come as little surprise. The British public was generally pleased with the military campaigns the Disraeli Government had waged in South Africa and India and were seeing progress in the Chinese Troubles - mainly due to the aggressiveness of the Royal Navy under defense Minister John Spencer-Churchill.

Also of vital importance was that the economy was humming along despite Chancellor Hunt's increased defense spending - Foreign swecretary Edward Stanley can take much of the credit for that as he has become "Mr. Let's Make a Deal" exploiting much of the empire's natural resources for government profit. Stanley's willingness to make many a deal doesn't set well with some Tories, but his brand of free trade liberalism has done wonders in keeping the Tories in power.

There are however some cracks in the present Tory electoral hegemony. There's wanton pollution and sickness in many of the cities in the british isles - something a foundling Labour Party might be able to take advantage of if they can find a dynamic leader to unite their very disorganized candidates.

Meanwhile, as Prime Minister Disraeli ponders his second Cabinet, the Liberals will need to decide whether to keep former Prime Minister William Gladstone on as leader or turn to a new face. The Liberals sufferred only a 2% swing against despite British military victories in South Africa and India. Former Home Secretary Edward Seymour is likely the only Liberal with enough clout to give Gladstone a run at this point and he has made no sounds about challenging the venerable former Prime Minister. Many Liberals - quietly of course - speak glowingly of Tory Foreign Secretary Edward Stanley and believe he is the man to lead the Liberal Party back to the promised land of Number 10 Downing Street. But for now Stanley remains loyaly seated on the government front bench.

Benjamin Disraeli's Second Tory Cabinet

Prime Minister: Benjamin Disraeli
Chancellor of the Exchequer: John Spencer-Churchill
Foreign Secretary: Edward Stanley
Home secretary: Richard Temple-Grenville
Secretary of State for Defense: Gathorne Hardy
Secretary of State for the Colonies: R.A. Cross

In the second cabinet Defemse Minister Spencer-Churchill got the well deserved promotion to Chancellor of the Exchequer, perhaps indicating even more of an increase in defense spending. Stanley remained at the Foreign Office while Richard Temple-Grenville was promoted to Home Secretary - foreboding more potential clashes over what to build in the British Isles between him and Spencer-Churchill. Home Secretary Gathorne Hardy moved to Defense and backbencher R.A. Cross was promoted to the colonial portfolio. Chancellor George Hunt retired from politics after a successful stint at the Exchequer.


New Colonial Secretary, R.A. Cross.

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[JonInMiddleGA]

Impressive work.

Not sure how you have the patience for this, but it's definitely different & rather strangely interesting.

[beargrowlz]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Impressive work.

Not sure how you have the patience for this, but it's definitely different & rather strangely interesting.

Thanks for the very kind words and I'm glad you're enjoying it. I agree it is something quite different and it's amusing to take these historical figures and try and figure out their interactions and have all these sorts of voices running around.

Weird, but fun.

Again, many thanks.



Cheers,
-Bear

[beargrowlz]

* * *

Spring, 1875: As the new cabinet moved into their offices the Tories found themselves in pleasant political surroundings. George Hunt had left the Treasury well full with a positive balance of 3489 gold and earning 102 per quarter. The Tories would get their usual honeymoon/one year bounce in the polls and by that time the new Defense Minister should be ready to make a decisive move in China. There was some call in Liberal Party circles for former Home Secretary Edward Seymour to challenge former Prime Minister William Gladstone for the leadership, but that appeared to be going nowhere as Seymour was not as of yet taking any part in it. And as for the socialists and left wing labour advocates, they remained as disorganized as ever leaving the way clear that if played right, the Tories could well have an easy time of four plus years governing with a run up to a third consecutive victory.

Fall, 1875: The Royal Navy continues to be overmatched using Ships of the Line against Ironclads in Chinese coastal waters but Secretary of State for Defense Gathorne Hardy believes it's the only way to wear down the Chinese and remove their presence from the seas. Says Hardy, "Quite simply we can afford to lose more ships and spend more money than the orientals can. We'll win the sea by attrition and then lay ruin to their cities and add to the glory of the British Empire and make China a fully British enterprise."

John Spencer-Churchill begins heavy defense spending to rush the building or artillery pieces in Hong Kong and Macau as a large British Expeditionary Force makes ready to land in Hong Kong once the sea has been cleared.

Summer, 1876: Defense Minister Hardy turned out to be correct. While the Chinese ironclads proved to be a tough nut to crack, the sheer numbers of Ships of the Line Hardy threw at them gave the Royal Navy control of the seas and the scene was set for a land battle just west of Macao.

Fall, 1876: With the Chinese Army falling back towards Nanjing before the advancing British "Oriental Expeditionary Force" (OEF), Defense Minister Hardy was intent on pursuing and destroying the Chinese force rather than picking off individual cities one by one. Said Hardy, "We take that army, the orient is ours."

Foreign Secretary Edward Stanley continued to be the natural resource provider of the world and in doing so bolstered Britain's treasury as Chancellor Spencer-Churchill continued to spend and spend heavily, mostly on artillery for the Chinese troubles.

In a surprise gambit which caught defense Minister Hardy with his pants down, the Chinese outflanked the OEF and defeated the small British garrison left at Macao, a complete and utter disaster for the Disraeli Government.

Winter, 1877: The PM accepted Gathorne Hardy's resignation as Defense Minister and Hardy entered the political wilderness of the backbenches. If Hardy hopes to be politically rehabilitated it's going to take some time after the loss of Macao. Hardy's expected resignation led to a cabinet reshuffle by Disraeli. Disraeli asked his old friend Richard Temple-Grenville to take over at Defense and he agreed. Colonial Secretary R.A. Cross was promoted to Home secretary to replace Temple-Grenville and backbencher Michael Hicks-Beach joined the Cabinet as Colonial Secretary.


Michael Hicks-Beach joins the Cabinet as the new Secretary of State for
Colonial Affairs.

Temple-Grenville's first task would be to see to the defense of Hong Kong and the liberation of Macao - and to try and prevent the Disraeli Government from dropping like a rock in the polls. Not quite two years into their second term the Tories found themselves 1 point down to Gladstone's Liberals. It's a good thing the Tories have a solid majority or the loss of Macao could very well have meant the end of the government.


Temple-Grenville quickly sorted
Hardy's disastrous Macao mess.

Temple-Grenville quickly saw to the liberation of Macao and moved the OEF back into the city. Prime Minister Disraeli hoped that would be enough to quell his government's freefall in the polls, but it was still quite some time until the next general election.

* * *

[beargrowlz]

* * *

Spring, 1877: As Secretary of State for Defense Richard Temple-Grenville consolidates the British Army's position in Macao and Chancellor of the Exchequer John Spencer-Churchill spends Royal gold reserves to provide Temple-Grenville with artillery, the two former allies turned rivals once again appeared to be working hand in glove to protect the British Empire as they once had earlier in their careers.

Meanwhile, under the leadership of Home Secretary R.A. Cross, the Home Office has discovered the technology of flight. Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli now makes it a priority to exploit some of the numerous sources of oil in the British Empire so the armed forces can start using fighter planes.

Summer, 1877: Opting against a large scale, set piece battle, Defense Minister Temple-Grenville orders a number of cavalry attacks against Chjinese Grenadiers, winning a number of skirmishes and inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese. If the Chinese don't withdraw from the proximity of Macao, they could lose their entire force to these raids and leave the oriental interior open to the OEF under Temple-Grenville.

Fall, 1877: As Chancellor Spencer-Churchill continues his heavy spending buying artillery and now training barracks in both Macao and Hong Kong - taking the treasury balance down to 1829 gold but still earning 154 gold per quarter thanks in large part to the dealmaking of Foreign Secretary Stanley - the Chinese Army did withdraw into the hills after temple-Grenville's successful cavalry raids.

While Temple-Grenville bides his time and builds his forces in Macao, he will soon be under pressure from his friend the PM to win a decisive military victory prior to the next general election.

Meanwhile, some in the press highlighted a potential split in the Conservatives.

The foolhardiness of the Disraeli Government knows no bounds. The loss of Macao showed exactly what ineptitude these aristocratic toy soldiers can get upto, being promoted to their own singular level of incompetence. For the good of the British Empire Foreign Secretary Edward Stanley should cross the floor of the House, take charge of the Liberal Party and lead it to victory as the party of peace and prosperity against this tired, old, war-mongering Tory regime.

Spring, 1878: As the Chinese continue to send wave after wave of forces at a well defended Macao, Secretary of State for Defense Richard Temple-Grenville has begun a scorched earth policy using cavalry troops to destroy Chinese resources near Nanjing. Said Temple-Grenville, "We'll make it impossible for those bandits to live off the land. We'll starve them out if need be, but the British Empire isn't leaving the orient any time soon and they had better get used to it." Foreign Secretary Edward Stanley adamantly opposed the scorched earth policy and rumors are that he is becoming more and more isolated within the cabinet.

After three years of the second Disraeli Government the Tories find themselves trailing Gladswtone's Liberals 48% to 47% in the polls. Disraeli begins pressuring Temple-Grenville for a much needed military victory as he'll need to ask the Queen to drop the writ sometime this year.

Summer, 1878: It now seems unlikely that Defense Minister Temple-Grenville will be able to provide the decisive military victory Disralie seeks before the General Election. While the Chinese continue to suffer heavy casualities to no effect in their attacks on Macao, Nanjing is well defended and will take time for Temple-Grenville to build up a force that can both take the initiative while still leaving enough troops in Macao and Hong Kong to defend those British colonies. Realizing this and with the Tories now leading the Liberals 51% to 46% in the polls Disraeli asked the Queen to call a General Election for the Summer of 1879.

Fall, 1878: As Defense Minister Richard Temple-Grenville continues his scorched earth policy of cavaly raids on Chinese natural resources and getting no support in Cabinet for his opposition to such policies, long-serving Foreign Secretary Edward Stanley - the face of the British Empire to the world - resigned in protest and crossed the floor of the House to sit on the Opposition Benches. Stanley did not immediately announce his political intentions, but did make it clear he would no longer receive the Tory whip and would not support the Disraeli Government any further.

This caused much ado in the press.

We can only humbly salute a man of principal such as the now former Foreign Secretary Edward Stanley for having the courage of his convictions to stand against the Disraeli Government's barbarism and the butchery of Richard Temple-Grenville in the Chinese Troubles. We are British, we are not barbarians. The British Empire needs more men like Edward Stanley to stand up for British ideals and against the notion that we must become barbarians to defeat the barbarians. One can only hope the British voting public realizes this as well because we simply cannot afford five more years of bloody Tory butchery.

Former Foreign Secretary Edward Stanley:
Political opportunist or man of conviction?

Men like Edward Stanley can sit in Whitehall and attend diplomatic banquets and soirees and pretend you can fight a war without getting your hands dirty. But as the Chinese throw wave after wave at British colonies and British soliders fight and die for the empire any methods which make the Chines less capable of mounting an offensive should be utilized by this government. Mr. Stanley you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs and you can't win a war against barberous Chinese hordes without using every weapon in your arsenal. If this isn't the worst type of crass political opportunism and a move by Stanley to position himself to win the Liberal leadership after Gladstone loses the upcoming General election, then it is simply naivette about how the world really works and the Disraeli Government - and the British Empire - are best served with Mr. Stanley out of the foreign office.

R.A. Cross moved from the Home Office to become the new Foreign Secretary and Colonial Secretary Michael Hicks-Beach was promoted to Home Secretary. Joining the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs was backbencher Algernon Percy.

Meanwhile, even though William Gladstone was the Leader of the Opposition and leading the Liberals in their electoral campaign to unseat Disraeli and the Tories, the British Empire kept its eyes focused on Edward Stanley - who many believed was the true opposition to the government of the day.

Spring, 1879: The Chinese hunted down and killed the bulk of the British cavalry troops with the rest fleeing back towards Macao. The Chinese also unveiled their recent technological breakthrough - the Destroyer - seizing naval superiority from the Royal Navy. With the General Election just around the corner the Liberals and Tories were neck and neck in the polls. Edward Stanley was nominated by the Liberals in a safe constituency and began earnestly campaigning for Gladstone - as an official member of the Liberal Party.


Disraeli or Gladstone? Gladstone or Disraeli?
Same guys, different day.

* * *

[beargrowlz]

* * *

Summer, 1879: In a hard fought election won only by the narrowest of margins the British public denied the Disraeli led Tories a third consecutive victory at the polls electing the Liberals to a narrow majority government.

General Election Results - Summer, 1879
 
Liberals  49% - 266 seats
Tories    47% - 235 seats
Labour   04% -    0 seats
 

In the end it was the lack of a decisive victory and sustainable peace in the Chinese Colonies that likely cost the Tories the election. And now, despite the expenditure of most of the government's fiscal surplus on troops and artillery, the new Gladstone Government would quite likely seek a moderate course of re-establishing the peace in China to allow British commerce to once agaion flourish.

A Tory loss on more levels than one.

Benjamin Disraeli, Prime Minister of the British Empire for nine years, had likely seen his last days in government. Growing older and frailer, it seemed unlikely that he would lead the Conservatives into another election - let alone back into government - before his age and health forced him to step down. While Disraeli gave no indication he would be stepping down as Party leader anytime soon, most observers agreed it would only be a matter of time, sooner rather than later.

The two most likely successors to Disraeli as Tory Party Leader were the outgoing Chancellor of the Exchequer and hero of the Boer War John Spencer-Churchill and the outgoing Secretary of State for Defense - and close Disraeli friend - Richard Temple-Grenville. Neither Spencer-Churchill or Temple-Grenville could be said to be favoured by anywhere close to a majority of Tory MP's, so if and when Disraeli decided to go it could turn out to be quite the lively race - with the very real possibility that a dark horse candidate could emerge.

Fall, 1879: William Gladstone had been Prime Minister for a little over four years in the late 1860's when he succeeded the deceased Henry Palmerston as Liberal Party Leader. His previous government was generally known for its fiscal acumen and it's military incompetence. With that in mind, Gladstone set out to form a government based on the following general principals.

1) Resolve the "China Troubles" as soon as possible with minimal future loss of British life.

2) Rebuild the gold surplus that previous Conservative Governments has fritterred away.

3) Make Britain intrinsic to international commerce and build a network of trade that would be impervious to, and prevent war. This meant dealing with all governments - including the French.

In assembling a Cabinet, Gladstone was faced with a vexing problem. In essence, he wanted to implement Edward Stanley's foreign policy without Stanley being viewed as "the man behind the curtain". Stanley's foreign policy could most certainly be viewed as being ideologically a soulmate of the Liberal Party, but the policy - and a government so dependent on that policy's success - could not be seen to be Gladstone's if Stanley returned to the Foreign Office where he had served under Disraeli.

But due to the circumstances of the last election, Stanley was the second most prominent Liberal in politics - in fact many Liberal MP's and voters would have preferred this to be a Stanley Government rather than one headed by Gladstone. So Gladstone would have to resolve this conflict and due so successfully to have both a successful government and avoid a political palace coup.

Gladstone found his solution by promoting Stanley. Staley would serve as Gladstone's Chancellor of the Exchequer - ostensibly the second highest office in the enmpire - but be removed from his power base in the Foreign Office. Not the perfect solution, but it would require Stanley begin building anew his political power base and allow Gladstone to take credit for the foreign policy which was in essence, Stanley's. But Stanley really couldn't complain because it was a promotion and made him the frontrunner to succeed Gladstone as Prime Minister.

Second Gladstone Liberal Government

Prime Minister: William Gladstone
Chancellor of the Exchequer: Edward Stanley
Foreign Secretary: Edward Seymour
Home Secretary: Edward Cardwell
Secretary of State for Defense: John Wodehouse
Colonial Secretary: William Harcourt

Wodehouse and Harcourt were newcomers to the cabinet. Seymour and Cardwell both had cabinet experience as Colonial and Home Secretaries and as Colonial Secretary respectively.

One of the first accomplishments of the new government was to make peace with China. Foreign Secretary Edward Seymour negotiated a cease fire with the Chinese that allowed Macao and Hong Kong to remain in the British Empire - concluding all hostilities and putting the Empire completely at lpeace for the first time in 17 years.

The new Liberal Government also began undertaking cultural, wealth and food building projects as military projects were completed, both in the colonies and in the British Isles. In its first three months alone the Gladstone Government began building a harbor in Hong Kong, Customs House is Singapore and levees in Plymouth and London - changing course from the military buildup policies of the Disraeli Government towards wealth creating policies of the new government.

Winter, 1880: In significant foreign policy coups, The Confederate States of America and Spain have agreed to become vassal States of the British Empire. Foreign Secretary Edward Seymour has become not only the man of the hour, but the darling of the media for these diplomatic achievements.


Foreign Secretary Edward
Seymour's popularity spanned
the width and breadth of the
political spectrum in the
Winter of 1880.

It is through sound fiscal management and international trade and a shared prosperity that Britain flourishes. Governments around the world realize this and flock to become associated with the British Empire when its government is not so obsessed with warmongering and aggression in the jungles of the Orient. Foreign Secretary Edward Seymour has done with the pen and parchment what Tory governments could not accomplish with sword and cannon - end the China Troubles and extend British influence in both Europe and in the Americas.

What a glorious time to be British.

We here at the Times welcome our American Cousins of the South into Commonwealth with the Empire and are encouraged to believe that their brothers to the North might soon follow. We - grudgingly we'll admit - give credit where credit is due; Foreign Secretary Edward Seymour has become the preeminent statesman on the world's stage - and deservingly so.

We say "well done" to Foreign Secretary Edward Seymour for ending the senseless butchery of brave British boys in China. Now if only this Government would eliminate the 15% requirement to sit in the House we might actually get a few more pro-worker members in the Commons.

* * *

[beargrowlz]

* * *

Spring, 1880: 20 year old Scottish coal miner Kier Hardie becomes de facto leader of the Labour Party. His first campaign is lobbying current MP's to introduce and support a bill removing the 15% threshhold needed to win seats in the House of Commons.


Kier Hardie takes over as Labour
Leader and pushes for removal
of the 15% threshhold.

Fall, 1880: With the completion of the Radio technology and the Assembly Line scheduled to be finished within 2 1/12 years and with the treasury back to over 2700 gold and producing 175 gold per quarter the Liberals have surged in the polls to a 60% to 39% lead over the Tories in the polls. The Cabinet decides that it's time for Home Secretary Edward Cardwell to institute his civics reforms bringing the British Empire back from the militaristic state it had become under the Tories.

Cardwell introduces Free Speech in place of Nationhood increasing gold and cultural output while removing the possibility of conscription and brings in Free Religion to replace Theocracy raising scientific development but removing the experience bonus given to new military builds. The measures pass with the 266 Liberals voting Aye and the 235 Tories voting Nay.

Spring, 1881: A diplomatic incident with the French has ruffled some feathers. The Gladstone Government's approval ratings have fallen to 54%. Former Prime Minister and current Tory Party Leader Benjamin Disraeli died this quarter. The season was spent with significant infighting and major discord within the Conservative Party as John Spencer-Churchill and Richard Temple-Grenville manuevered to become the next Party Leader. The Party went through the Spring Session without electing a new leader and former Home Secretary Michael Hicks-Beach - generally considered a non-threatening political non-entity was selected to serve as Interim Party Leader. But the Tories would remain in disarray until this situation was resolved.

At Home Secretary Cardwell's initiative, the cabinet agreed that due to the discord among the Tories, now would be a good time to introduce legislation that would reduce the threshold needed to winning seats in the House of Commons to 6% of the vote from the current 15%. The legislation passed the House 366-135, drawing 100 Tory votes to the Aye's with the disorganization of the Conservatives due to the death of Disraeli.


Home Secretary Edward Cardwell was
re-making the British Empire into a
constitutional, Liberal Democracy.

The timing of the legislation was crucial as due to it being a major constitutional change it need a 2/3 vote (330 votes) in the affirmative. Starting at the next election a party will only need to win 6% of the vote to take its place in the Commons - a big boost to the nascent Labour Party.

Summer, 1881: As the Tories continued to be plagued by a nasty leadership dispute the Liberals continued to take advantage, passing a new constitutional initiative that required a 2/3 vote to change any civics. the 266 Liberal MP's were joined by 117 Tories to pass the legislation 383 to 118. Home Secretary Cardwell and Prime Minister Gladstone were re-making Britain in a Liberal Democratic, constitutional image.

Winter, 1882: A diplomatic rapproachment between the Empire and Brazil led to a slight boost in the government's popularity. Colonial secretary Harcourt continued the Liberal Government's wealth creation policies by starting to build a customs house in Cape Town.

The Tories finally elected a leader but remained bitterly divided. John Spencer-Churchill, hero of the Boer War and former Chancellor of the Exchequer won the narrowest of victories in caucus with a 118-117 over Richard Temple-Grenville.


John Spencer-Churchill was elected
leader of a divided Conservative Party.

Temple-Grenville did not lose gracefully and how Spencer-Churchill was going to re-unite the Tories was a major question as pundits began to speculate when Gladstone would ask the Queen to drop the writ and what impact the working class left vote might have with the lowered threshold.

Spring, 1882: With Plymouth celebrating a "We Love The Prime Minister Day" things were looking up for the Gladstone Government which was a 58% to 41% lead over the disorganized Tories in the polls. If the current political climate continues pundits expect the Prime Minister to call a General Election for the Fall of 1882 or Winter of 1883.

* * *