The Josephite Dissolution, 1815

[MRCHENN 4741]

 

 

The Dissolution of the Josephite Union

---

Foreword

Fellow Josephites,

 

It is with both pride and grief that we write this letter. fifty one years ago, this Union formed with but a dream of Enlightenment. 

 

Our most Holy Empire once existed amongst perpetual war, injustice, and greed. And then there was a great man who, a victim of his era, sought a new society. The Emperor Joseph the First envisioned peace over war, justice of injustice, and prosperity over greed. Through the Nenzing Proclamation, an idea was born of a new social contract.

 

Bearing his name, this Union has nurtured this Empire in social revolution. As the sun’s smile, the light of Dignity has shown over the Dark Ages, encompassing All branches of society, and providing growth to those who were once left behind. The accomplishment of such can only be described as greatness.

 

And all good things must come to an end. Upon reflection within Josephite Leadership, it has been decided that this Union must disperse.

 

The exercise of power in noble pursuit is both selfless and corrupting. And it is the establishment of power which is most corrupting. 

 

For any great writer, there is a point where the book must end. There are for certain many new branches, or intricacies, or holes he could fill, yet restraint must be had to contain the narrative of the work. He must not stray from the central focus. Should this Union continue to exist, it would have strayed from its central focus, and would be in direct opposition to all built. 

 

This does not mean that Josephism has died. This most Holy Empire now breathes the ideas of our movement, it has become ingrained, and our goals accomplished. As Joseph Marma had only lived in the eras of dark, this generation has only lived in our era of Enlightenment. It is time for a new step, for their visions, and for them to paint upon this nation we have made.

 

It is with that, that this Josephite caucus does dissolve this party and union, alongside any of its seals and uses of its name. Within this letter, you will find the history of this party, amongst its foundation and evolution over different historical periods. It would be with this dissolution in which it'd be known that the Josephites were never forced to a loss.

 

 

---

 

Birth of a Union

The May-Stafyr-Elendil Period

 

It is the year of 1736, and the wounds created during the War of Two Emperors had slowly begun to heal. On the 10th of Harren’s Folly of that year, Lord Protector Adrian de Sarkozy issued the Edicts of Establishment and of Election, which ordered the creation of the Imperial Diet to serve as the legislative body of the Holy Orenian Empire. A bicameral institution, peers appointed by the Crown were to be seated in the House of Lords while elected representatives were seated in the Senate. Within a year's time, the first elections were held and the freshman class of eight non-partisan Senators were selected to deliver the peoples business. Of these eight was the bookish but sincerely charismatic Senator from Haense, Terrence May. The first to sponsor legislation, being the Senate Committees act of 1737, May was a staunch liberal and believer of the Rights of Man as proclaimed by Joseph Marna. For the next thirty years, May would fight to liberalize the economy, ensure fair judicial procedure and trials by jury, and expand civil liberties to encompass most of the Imperial population. Through him, the philosophy of Josephitism grew into a popular ideology based around the ethos that would become their war cry; for the dignity of all.

 

---

 

“I firmly believed it is important that the Senate assert its power to oversee the actions of our Imperial State and its officials, with the primary goal in mind to foster transparency and trust after nearly a century of uncertainty and instability.” 

Sir Terrence May

 

---

 

In the year of 1763, the Imperial Senate was dissolved and the Diet reorganized via the Edict of Reform, 1763. While the House of Lords would remain, the Senate was transformed into the House of Commons, as it is known today. Elected members of the Commons would be seated based on the national average of votes earned by the now mandatory political organizations, instead of regional elections for regional candidates. Terrence May, the aging lion of the old Senate who was rather displeased with the new developments of the Commons. He believed greatly in the independence of the legislator and in regional respect. He ultimately, however, found himself at the front of the Josephite movement and was named chairman of its namesake party. The risk of the rising monarchist Everardine party and its illiberal tendencies spurred May into one more term to organize the party and establish the movement. It was at the convention of 1763 where he, along with his lifelong legislative partner Konrad Stafyr, and Supreme Court Justice John d’Arkent organized the first unified Josephite platform and party membership. It was here he also would meet ISA veteran and chairman of the Poor Fellows of Harren organization, Jonah Stahl-Elendil.

 

Terrence was impressed with Stahl-Elendil, who spoke at length on how economic opportunity is the next step towards the full realization of the Rights of Man that Joseph Marna proclaimed. He saw in Stahl-Elendil a command of the floor and a deep understanding of rhetoric. A last minute change to the list saw the philanthropist rise from 15th on the Josephite list to 6th. And so it was on. Terrence May led the Josephite Party to its first victory as an organization in the Election of 1764, winning 8 seats and 52% of the vote to the Everardine’s 48%. Yet this victory would be their only victory of the session. Terrence May was elected president of the House of Commons, and Konrad Stafyr named majority leader. They had control of the chamber and could set the agenda, but this potential would ultimately be wasted.

 

Across the aisle was the sly and quick witted Amadeus d’Aryn serving as the leader of the Everardine caucus and His Imperial Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. The Everardines were energized and ready to fight the Josephites on every front. They introduced popular legislation ensuring the separation of political organizations and the judiciary. In contrast, the Josephite bench was often empty save for Stafyr, May, the elder statesmen Cyrus Basrid, and the freshman Jonah Stahl-Elendil. The Josephites also failed to see a majority of their agenda introduced due to these attendance issues. Only one Josephite bill creating a Ministry of Education, as proposed by Stahl-Elendil, would pass the chamber. The bill would fail receive assent.

 

As the defeats and embarrassments compounded, Terrence May grew very weary. At his advanced age, he decided that he could no longer lead the party into the future. Faced with the uncertain direction of the Josephite party and an impending election that could be disastrous, May entrusted the chairmanship of the Josephite party with Jonah Stahl-Elendil. This was not without controversy, as Stahl-Elendil had quickly made a name for himself as a fierce debater, almost too fierce. Furthermore, he was known as an outspoken critic of what he believed were the shortcomings of the Empire, earning the ire of Edward Napier, the Minister of Civil Affairs and Josephite elder. Many party elders were not satisfied with May’s choice of Stahl-Elendil. Despite this constant pressure from all sides, his mind was made up. May announced his decision not to seek another term in the House of Commons during the final session of the 15th Diet. He was met with a ten minute standing ovation from spectators and legislators on all sides. At the Josephite convention soon after, Jonah Stahl-Elendil was elected party chairman. He would waste no time reorganizing the party.

 

Jonah Stahl-Elendil had few friends within the old guard of the party, with some defecting to the Everardine camp. With that, he opted to make some new ones. He turned to his best friend and fellow veteran from the ISA, Franz Sarkozy to begin crafting policy. He found allies in May’s proteges; Konstantin Wick and Angelika Bykov who proved to be fierce campaigners. The Poor Fellows of Harren allowed Stahl-Elendil to find fellow Adunians immigrants across the Empire, especially in Kaedrin by way of print pressers Oisin and Padraig O’Rourke who furiously spurred out Josephine literature. In the northern reaches of the Empire, Stahl-Elendil would be the first ‘southern’ leader to travel to Johnstown. He found a friend in Abram Stalistena, who would join him on the trail and bring Josephitism to the furthest reaches of the Empire. Yet internal and independent polling via the Universal Union’s ‘UNCHAINED’ magazine showed that Elendil was lagging in the polls with many undecided voters. Attack ads on Jonah’s military career and the Josephite’s failure to act in the previous session were resonating with potential voters, and others were not yet convinced of either party’s message.

 

The Great Debate of 1768, sponsored by the Universal Union, saw Everardine leader Amadeus d’Aryn face off against Jonah Stahl-Elendil in what has been described as a “fierce battle between the past and the future.” The men sparred over the concepts of individual liberty, the power of the Crown, the proper way to restore a failing economy, and much more. As the evening continued, Stahl-Elendil rattled the Everardine leader by attacking his morality and elitist nature while contrasting it with his own working class appeal. Before the evening was done, Jonah had unveiled the ‘Marna Plan’, which would be a list of policies aimed at revolutionizing the Orenian economy and restoring civic health to the nation. Exit polling showed that responders favored Jonah Stahl-Elendil to Amadeus d’Aryn and believed that he was the winner. The momentum of the debate propelled the Josephites further, bridging the gap and converting many undecided voters.

 

On election day, 1768, citizens, leaders, and partisan affiliates assembled in Helena’s Varoche Hall for the results to be read aloud. Parliamentarian Beelzebub declared that the Josephite Party, at 56% of the national vote, had won the Provinces of Haense, the Northlands, and the once Everardine stronghold of Kaedrin and secured 8 seats in the House of Commons. The Everardines had flipped Helena from Josephite control but were unable to secure a majority. The election of 1768 marked the beginning of a new era in Imperial politics. For the next two decades, the direction of the Holy Orenian Empire would be dictated by a unified ideology of liberal minds under Jonah Stahl-Elendil.

 

Spoiler

Acts

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/192891-the-evictions-act-1772/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/192894-legal-procedure-act-1772/

 

 

Years of Entrenchment

The Elendil-Sarkozy-Galbraith Period

 

 

---

 

“Even against all odds, we had persisted.”

Sir George Galbraith c. 1800

 

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Often recognized as the Golden Age of the Josephites, the Years of Entrenchment were one characterized by staunch, rather, monumental political battles.The Stahl-Elendil ministry was the first to establish precedent of the confidence system, given way in lieu of the party system.

 

Through the culmination of the 17th through the 19th Diet, the parliamentary factions slowly gave way to what would be known as the Muldavian bloc. Arisen from the tendrils of the remnants of the Everardine party and from former Josephites themselves, this bloc formed in part under the pretext of Independents -- seeking to weaken the Basrid and Elendil government and render their ministries weak. At the forefront of governance the Josephites stood among the likes of Jonah Elendil, George Galbraith, and Padraig O'Rourke. Holding the confidence of Orenian subjects through legislative battles, they sought to uphold the status quo as the systems of the Treasury and Justice were meddled with. Through the period of the 18th Diet’s legislative sessions, the dialogue ensued and the unwilling vassal relationship was questioned. Eventually, the Treaty of Helena was signed, and the 19th Diet dissolved the day it began as Haense received its independence.

 

For Forty-four years, the Basrid Ministry built what was known as the modern Imperial bureaucracy during the reign of Peter III. With his eventual resignation as Archchancellor, came ever so a responsibility for the new head of state. Many were unsure of this newfound Adunian Archchancellor, yet Elendil and Josephites persisted forthrightly. The Elendil ministry quickly turned to internal reform, strengthening the Justice system alongside the Ministry of Justice. Additionally, in pursuance of an aggressive Foreign Policy, the Elendil Ministry sought to open the doors of the Empire back open to the realm - following the Sutican war that plagued its reputation.

 

Upon the resignation of Jonah Stahl-Elendil, the vacancy of the chancellery became subject to one of the greatest political battles in the history of the modern Empire. To challenge the power of the Josephites a new party, the Nationals, arose, led by George Kovachev, a former Josephite statesman, and Ledicort d’Azor, the Secretary of the Treasury of the time. The Election of 1800, pitting Vice Chancellor Franz Sarkozy against George Kovachev was undoubtedly the most controversial and hotly-contested election in the era of the House of Commons. The election period was marked by fierce debate, fights in the streets, and a volatile political scene. Come election day, neither party was able to gain a clear majority, with the Josephites coming away with six seats and the Nationals five. Eventually, after some negotiation with the fledgling Unionist Party, whose Edward Napier had won the decisive twelfth seat, Franz Sarkozy was able to gain majority in the Commons and form a government with himself as Archchancellor and George Galbraith as his Vice Chancellor.

 

It was not a year before the untimely incapacitation of the Representative Dimitri Orlov, and the subsequent filling of his seat with a National Representative, left the Commons without a clear majority. Faced with the prospect of another election being called, Archchancellor Sarkozy made preparations to step down and allow his place to be taken by a National in exchange for his Cabinet, formed of both Josephites and Unionists, to be retained. However, in the 11th hour, the Unionist Representative and newly-appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs blundered. Edward Napier, in a moment of opportunism, tried to sell his loyalty to the Nationals and give them a majority in the Commons in exchange for his position being secured. Not wishing to deal with an unreliable ally, National leaders Kovachev and d’Azor met with Sarkozy and Galbraith, striking a deal to form a unity government in exchange for splitting the Cabinet evenly between Nationals and Josephites. This event, known as the Revolution of 1800, ushered in an era of bipartisanship, allowing the Commons to pass critical legislation, namely the Empire’s first national tax. As a result of the Revolution of 1800, Cabinet members would be chosen for their merits, not their political allegiances, allowing the government to operate for the sake of the Empire, not the parties within it.

 

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“The evolution of the party system transformed into one of the most volatile political structures known to this modern Empire.”

 

Sir Franz Sarkozy, c.1810 

 

---

 

Spoiler

Acts

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/193538-imperial-business-funding-act-1776/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/193622-amendment-to-imperial-business-funding-act-1777/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/193625-licensed-bail-bondsman-act-1776/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/194886-intellectual-property-act-1777/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/194908-intelligent-non-person-testimony-act-1782/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/194911-swift-fair-justice-act-1782/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/195484-the-backpayment-procedure-act-1784/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/195600-the-double-jeopardy-act-1788/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/195602-the-imperial-budget-act-1787/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/195714-the-incohate-offenses-act-1788/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/195716-retroaction-act-1788/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/196373-the-discharges-act-1791/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/196418-strong-institutions-act-1794/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/196420-wrongful-imprisonment-act-1794/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/196372-inheritance-convention-act-1790/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/198193-domestic-priority-act-1803/

 

 

The Last Triumph

The Ruthern-Armas Period

 

Although considered to be the twilight years of the Josephite Party, the Galbraith-Armas period was marked by a period of repeated electoral successes and a bipartisan, and eventually nonpartisan, Sarkozy Ministry. Within the Commons, new faces were brought to the forefront, filling seats both in Providence as well as outlying electoral districts, showing the Empire-wide appeal brought by the Josephites.
 

It was at the time new faces arose in the party ranks. The Sarkozy Ministry had separated itself from the Imperial Diet, with Archchancellor Sarkozy holding only nominal authority as Chair of the Josephites, allowing Keaghen Armas to rise to leadership of the Josephite Union in the House of Commons in the 23rd diet. Commanding a majority, he and his deputy leader Vinzant var Ruthern pushed the Personhood Pathway Act and the Napier Dignity Act, the final acts of the old Josephite Spirit- Dignity For All. It was the Armas-Ruthern team who also re-established Josephite superiority in the legislative scene once again. When the National leader William Aubert sought Josephite support to deny his own party-member, Charles Galbraith, confirmation as the Solicitor-General, Armas gave Galbraith the necessary confirmation. Aubert resigned on the spot. The diet would instate significant justice reform and provide support to a restructured Ministry of Justice.

 

The 23rd Diet both empowered a younger generation and stewarded the final Josephite reforms.

 

Spoiler

Acts

Napier Dignity Act

Personhood Pathway Act

Jeopardy Amendment Act

 

 

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Conclusion

 

As outlined in Sir Simon Basrid’s Tapestry of Man and Sir George Galbraith’s What it means to be Orenian, the identity of us Orenians revolves around the institutions that we build and refine. The highest good is no longer the ambitions of the self, the family, the clan, rather it is that which benefits humanity as a whole. Our motto, For the Dignity of All, encompasses this sentiment - the Orenian world is that of civil service, protection, promotion of individual liberty. The aspirations of the farmer, the business man, and the worker no longer lay below that of the aristocrat, but are equal to it. Although this era of governance comes to a close, it is the Josephite spirit that will shape the future of our state and the will of the people that shall propel it forward. 

 

Continue this legacy. Serve your country, Oren, in some way or another. May God save this Empire.

 

 

---

 

Spoiler

OOC

Hey guys, Jakobi here. I’ll be speaking for Nect, Chenn, Sorted, and a few others here at the party level. A lot of you have been with us or adjacent to this experience since day 1, and I want to say from the bottom of my heart how grateful I am to have had such a wonderful time with you all. The Josephite Party is near and dear to me, so this is no easy thing for any of us. When I first was handed the organization's leadership by Piov, I wanted to take this existing organization and preserve it, and help folks engage in an experimental roleplay style. I believed that the group and its goals of preserving people's RP and allowing folks to explore beyond the LOTC standard sword & sorcery. Instead, because of all of your help or your good faith competition, the Josephite Party became something greater than I could imagine. This is easily some of the most fun I’ve had on LOTC, and I can only say thank you. There are truly too many people to thank for the fun I have had and the pride I feel. 

 

Tiocfaidh ár lá. It's an Irish slogan meaning "Our Day will Come." Since had taken the party reign over a year ago, it has been his slogan.

 

Well, our day has come. And it is time for a new era.

 

JakobiWitness,  Piov, AndrewTech, Gusano, Dyl, Nectorist, Chenn, Asutto, Audyush, JoanofArc, Lyonharted, Stalistena, AnonymousAlexa, Xarkly, Erik, Lhind, SortedJarhead, Hanrahan, and many more. Thank you for being part of this journey, something that will never be forgotten.

 

 

[SortedJarhead 817]

Reserved

[Nectorist 12869]

"The close of a chapter. I owe great things to the Josephites, as do many others. I thank all who were a part of it, for a great thing we did create," says Franz as he signs off on the missive, ending his days as Chairman of the Josephites.

[RaindropsKeepFalling 886]

Spoiler

 

Somewhere, by the heights above the sky, or the depths deeper than the subterranean crevices, than the core: a crux of abject dark, a fellow grew from the resting unrest or the prelude, and an end. A great light: a comet of a fleeting instance, or had it been prolonged? How brisk- the days of guileless innocence; the naysayers would call it "fraud." 

 

The missive had made its message to the ashen soul.

 

"Ah," came the remarking, soundless holler of a deniable timbre. "There it goes." 

 

And he smiled, in simplicity. For, the curtain had closed on vaudeville, and the audience had long hitherto vanished to the depths of a place, a home. It was droll, with its vibrant reminiscences, preceding The End.

 

His look brandished a sincerity, a remorse, therein, or, had it been that way all along? Naught was certain, but a sure burgeoning notion, perhaps regret.

 

"Let the bygones be bygones, eh? An', let the appellations fall, eh? Ah, well..." He paused, surmounting an eternity: a second. Or, was it the first? "Wasn' I loyal... I guess some'a ye' didn't stop playin'." And, him

 

"Thas' life, I 'spose." 

 

---

 

He sighed. They'd morphed, and swivelled at the masque of half-truths and ties: all tangled up. 'Twas bittersweetly melancholy, when the day had come. Nay- not a day, but an instance. It would be soon now, the headlines; he'd bestow naught.

 

It would be soon, wishes for else- from the holy truth, and else from a legacy's endless road.

 

"'Till next time, boys. End of an era." He said, frank, to no spirit but the air- the confines of his personal psyche.
 

Gino smirked; he knew. Tired thoughts would linger, 'till tomorrow with a great blinding light, for "the dignity of all."

 

A new epoch embarked of something he knew not.

 

---

 

Spoiler

I'm gonna sound like a broken record, but it's truly the end of an era. There have been ups and downs, and even sometimes sideways turns, but I can't say it wasn't memorable, or something you're all proud of. 

 

It's bittersweet, but I'm eager to see tomorrow. 

 

<3

 

[Benjikhei 698]

reserved

[sergisala 3451]

"The End of an Era." Sir Galbraith would simply mutter as he heard the news.

[bickando 3967]

On a fine, sunny day in Providence, the enchanting Princess Helen walks the grounds of the palace gardens.

 

"Look here! See you the peonies so finely colored? I should hope the handmaides pluck some, that they may be brought inside to adorn our halls," she quips to the not-quite-as-attractive, but still beautiful, Anna Henrietta.

 

@libbybelle

[Zanthuz 1863]

Eirik Baruch sat comfortably by his lonesome as he floated in the skies that so delicately flew above, he began to fumble around before finding his Vivaca Ruthledge cotton wound doll before out of nowhere he began to vigorously impale it several times with a piece of sharpened flint! "Vivaca fook'in Ruthledge, fookin' hate'd her as a Senator! God dah'm wast'e of air s'he was!"

[ApplePieKathy 561]

“Well, that was unexpected. The Josephite Party was mired with corruption and scandal, I am glad I sat independent from their caucus.” Said Vivaca Rutledge  

[1_Language_1 1671]

6 hours ago, Zanthuz said:

Eirik Baruch sat comfortably by his lonesome as he floated in the skies that so delicately flew above, he began to fumble around before finding his Vivaca Ruthledge cotton wound doll before out of nowhere he began to vigorously impale it several times with a piece of sharpened flint! "Vivaca fook'in Ruthledge, fookin' hate'd her as a Senator! God dah'm wast'e of air s'he was!"

 

Eirik was indeed by his lonesome, before the violent sounds of flint-stabbing caught the attention of a familiar one-armed doctor who was passing through. Matthias was also floating about the skies as his mortal life tragically came to a close long ago. He came closer in silence, slowly peering over Eirik's shoulder until he spotted the crude cotton doll of his beloved daughter. Matthias frowned and shot out his only hand in an attempt to smack the dead Baruch upside the back of the head. "You son of a be'tch! That's my feckin' daughter you're stabbing at. You wouldn't like it if I stabbed at yours." Matthias Rutledge frowned, scrunching up his nose. He lost his arm for being a senator. 

 

The doctor let out a sigh and eased up his aggression, rubbing at the bridge of his nose with his only hand. "You're dead now, don't be so concerned with the affairs of the living. Cast down that doll, we're not savages."

 

 

[AnonymousAlexa 3890]

"'Twas a good run," remarked Angelika Bykov with a gentle exhalation upon hearing word of the dissolution. The elderly woman fondly recalled the memories of her youth and the many likeminded individuals she met throughout her journey as a politician. As one of the few remaining original Josephites, she missed her colleagues dearly. But everything must come to an end.

[valecu 2128]

Valent dips his head as he took deep breath and exclaimed. "Eternity is dream - still not achieved by anyone!"