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I'd like to play Horace Capron
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Feb 7, 2014 15:45
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Horace Capron I feel it is not my place to oppine about this government's foreign affairs. I'm here to make sure this state is prosperous. If you manage to gain more land and resources, I will do my utmost to aid you to make the most of those. But I applaud the Eto's government dedication to making sure their government is economically independent. So let's talk economy. One of the great boons Hokkaido has is the rich farmland. One of the great problems is the lack of population. I firmly believe that it is many a man's dream to live a good, simple life of honest work, free to have the faith of their choosing. Even if they cannot own the land, not being Samurai, the promise of a life free of religious prosecution will attract many. So, here is a suggestion. Some lands that aren't very profitable right now are made available for new immigrants. I will oversee the establishment of modern farms, providing wheat and rye. They will remain the property of Samurai of course, but new immigrants will be attracted to new lives, raising crops in the fertile Hokkaido grounds. Is this an idea to the government's liking?
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Feb 7, 2014 17:12
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Horace Capron On another note, it has come to my attention that these lands have but received the most rudimentary of surveying. Opportunities might be hidden just beneath the surface, and possibilities to improve productivity might need only a focused look. With the permission of the government, I would like to start an in depth survey of Hokkaido's farms and mineral wealth. Besides permission, this would also require some resources. But I can tell you that it'll bring you great profit.
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Feb 7, 2014 17:57
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Horace Capron Ah, baseball. Yes, it certainly became quite popular. When I was young it was mostly a thing people played for fun, but lately it has turned into a true official sport. I of course support my home team of the Red Stockings, though I haven't heard news of them since I've been here naturally. An interesting game it is. All about both skill, power, speed but also judgement of risks versus reward. And unlike cricket, it doesn't take a week to do it. Now, onto more serious matters. I absolutely understand the concern people have shown. Many European nations have been exploiting colonies. Until a few generations ago, we WERE one of those exploited colonies. We have no interest in being on the other side of that relation. The United States of America supports the Ezo Republic because of its own interests. But America sees a good, solid, honest trade partner as its best interest. Not a colony, for the age of colonies will end. But words are cheap. What I will tell you is that I will write down all the information of that survey, always with one of your people with me. And that information will be handed over to the cabinet. I will not keep a copy for myself, and I will swear not to sell or give the information to foreigners without the approval of the Ezo government.
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Feb 8, 2014 00:46
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Horace Capron Hah, well, it should be a very small cricket league then, my good captain. There is too much work to be done for many people to spend the time necessary to sit through cricket matches. But that aside, Captain Blakiston is not wrong. My specialty is agriculture. Of course, given resources I will certainly be able to hire good men to survey for minerals. But I'd be lying if I said that Captain Blakiston's assistance wouldn't help. However, know that my assistance is always granted. I am paid a stipend by the Republic, and so I am at its service. The good Captain is a merchant and he intends to make a profit from this undertaking, as is his honest intent. The choice is here between the long term, or the short term. His aid in surveying would save money and possibly mean more would be discovered. But he would not offer it if he did not believe he'd make a good profit of it. And of course, I know some of the honored samurai would have strong feelings on the matter. I would not feel offended were he to be given this task. Now, onto manners of economic reform. I can make sure that the most modern, state of the art tools, seeds and raining will find their way to these shortes, but they have a price. And the question is, how will we pay for them? 1: The Republican government could of course buy them directly, and allow the farmers to use them, the farmers would pay for it in taxes. But the machines would remain government property. 2: The Samurai who oversees the land could pay for them, and let those on that land use them. It would mean the land he oversees would be more productive 3: Farmers could buy them themselves. This has the problem that few of the farmers have the funds to do so. Possibly, the government could make loans to these farmers, meaning they'd get more than their money back. Of course, the farmers themselves would own these tools. 4: Merchants could purchase it. But here is the problem that since merchants may not own land, they would have no use for it. They could sell it to farmers, but honestly, then it's better for the farmers to buy them directly. Personally, I'm inclined to support the third option. But I would be remiss if I failed to present all possibilities that I see. Then there is industry. I feel there is opportunity there as well, especially if we find good resources. I feel the merchant class stands to profit from this (and through taxes, the entire Republic) Many have a fair amount of wealth, and if given the permission, could invest in factories. They could buy the resources the farmers produce, and sell it both to people within, and to people without, bringing much wealth to the republic. On that note, I ask the cabinet to consider not being too strict on the merchant class. I realize that the army must be strong, and someone must pay. But as a farmer needs seeds to bring a harvest, a merchant needs money to bring a great profit. Moderation in taxation now might cost a little today, but will bring great wealth to the republic tomorrow.
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Feb 8, 2014 04:42
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Horace CapronLetter to Mr Kasuga posted:
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Feb 9, 2014 23:33
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Horace Capron Gentlemen, First of all, I wish to congratulate the Ezo Republic with its rich and fertile lands. These lands have the possibility to be among the richest in Asia. Handled well, they can become an economic powerhouse that the lands south will simply be unable to compete with, and will show this Republic to be the future of Japan. I will work in close concert with the government and all parties involved to make sure this land is brought to its fullest potential. Now, I understand that war brings with it costs, and that it may be tempting to draw more wealth. And yet here I am asking you to considering lowering taxes on the peasant and merchant class. Not out of some ideology, but simple pragmatics. There are many opportunities for trade and farming both, but these will not be ceased if the ones that would take it do not have the money. Even if you have to take loans on those tax cuts, they might very well pay themselves back multiple times in the long run. If you borrow $ 100, and pay back $ 110, but the investments get you 120 $ in taxes later, you have gained money. And with the resources available, I firmly believe that tax cuts will bring this land greater prosperity, and in the long term, greater income for the government.
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Feb 12, 2014 17:23
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Horace CapronLetter to Tsukinoeaino posted:Dear sir,
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Feb 13, 2014 23:14
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Horace Capron Honorable sirs, I have been fretting over our budget for a while. War is an expensive matter, and the warriors of the Republic deserve the utmost support, while our economy must continue to be stimulated. Yet where to obtain the money? The peasants are flourishing, but they possess not much, and would feel a tax increase hard, as would the laborers. The merchants then? But there is not much money to be found there. It was odd. I searched, wondering if perhaps there was corruption, but I found none. What I found was the spirit of ambition. Samurai see the opportunities that trade offers them, and with many of them unable to fulfill their traditional roles, have invested money in successful undertakings, and they eclipse many of the Chonin's richest undertakings. I'll leave whether this is a desirable trait up to the honored Samurai, but the fact of the matter is that they make a lot of money. If this continues, all but the most insignificant of trade will soon be done by Samurai merchant-lords, tax-free. The merchant class would be reduced to a handful of small merchants, contributing a negligible amount of income to our government. I feel that how this is to be handled is a discussion that is not simply economical, but has its root in cultural, social and political matters, and I will not hazard to make a judgement here. I would like however to propose in the short term the War Time Contributions Act to the honored Samurai. It would require a 10% tax on all trade income gained by Samurai, but would be limited in time until the next three months. If the war continues and a lengthening is needed, it can be reconsidered in three months. For Samurai who do not engage in trade, nothing would change, and they would pay no taxes.
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Feb 14, 2014 01:40
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Horace Capron I'm sure our honoured Financial minister will improve on it soon, but just to get the discussion started, I would like to propose a budget Government Expenditures: Internal Security: 5 Samurai Stipends: 6 Army Maintenance: 6 (6 required now due to mobilization) Navy Maintenance: 3 Military Logistics: 3 (3 required now due to supply demands) Interest Payments: 6 (minimum to avoid increase in principal) Agricultural subsidies: 2 Industrial subsidies: 1 This would keep our army well supplied for cleaning up the last remnants on Sado, and our fleet ready for anything that should happen. The subsidies should aid the labor starved economy to keep growing while we work towards a situation for it, and make sure we have more money available next time to pay back loans, engage in other wars or do whatever the Republic chooses to do.
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Feb 15, 2014 02:09
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Horace Capron Before anything else, my deepest condolences to the Shogun and Captain Blakiston. I hope justice will soon be done to the perpetrators of this act. I hope to see stability return politically as well, for the good of the Ezo Republic. I do not believe it would be proper for me to get involved, so I will focus on the job I was brought here for, the continuing economical development of this place. We do indeed have a rather generous room in our budget. In my role as economical advisor, let me run over a few options. 1 Repaying Debt This would have a sure impact on coming budget, as money we pay towards that will reduce the interest we'll need to pay. It might very well increase our standing, as we show that we are a financially solvable nation. For now, I do not recommend this. There are many opportunities that would bring us a much greater return on our investments, both financially and otherwise, than the interest, and France and England are still patient. Besides, as long as we owe them money, they have a stake in the survival of our republic, since if the Meiji were to take us over, they would likely not take over the debt, and they would have lost their money. We should do this when we have less opportunities for growth. 2: Navy Infrastructure If this nation is to become independent from western nations, it cannot continue to depend on them for its survival. As things are, it is the fleet that keeps the Ezo Republic alive, and each battleworthy ship there has been fabricated elsewhere. An investment here would not only strengthen our position against the Meiji, but also increase our stature among other nations. The disadvantadge here is that this will not give us any monetary return. We will need to set up the infrastructure, we will need to bring people educated in the matters and train Ezo citizens, we will need to either import coal and iron, or find and exploit local resources. I would not wait too long for this, but I'm not sure if our economy can support such an ambitious project at this moment. 3: Agricultural investment This land is fertile and promising, and we could easily set up several crops here. With the right amount of technology, we could grow large amounts of food. Considering China is currently a famine, we might very well get an excellent price for any overproduction. A feeling of security to famine also encourages people to expand their families. A fair amount of land has been cleared by the Aizu already. The question is who will work it. What I propose is that we take some of the veteran non-Samurai, both from the last conflict and the one that birthed this nation. We give them some of the prime land to work, with light dues, free training in modern farming techniques and we have the government purchase the machinery, then lease it to those farmers. 4: Industrial Investment It is already open to foreign investors. And I consider my own investments in the country a matter of 'putting my money where my mouth is' There are many resources this land has. But my own search was mainly for agriculture. We could organize a search for new veins of ore in these mountains. Then there is the woodcutting. Currently, we cut trees, but there is not a proper timber industry. I believe, in cooperation with the Aizu, government and foreign investors, we could create woodmills, and from there fishing ships can be constructed, as well as furniture and many other goods. Construction projects would be a lot easier with ample supplies of timber. 5: Logistical investment. The island is currently sill rather untamed. Constructions of road has alreadys tarted, but more is on the way. And of course, railroads are made. Trains would be a boon in getting any resources from one end of the island to the other quickly, and can be used for troop transport. I know there are private citizens that seek to invest in them though. Which would mean they would profit form it, but we'd have resources free to invest elsewhere. edit: corrected numbering Shogeton fucked around with this message at 01:09 on Feb 21, 2014 |
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Feb 21, 2014 00:33
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Horace Capron So, the feedback I received, though not through official channels, suggested some interest in agricultural investment. To this, I propose the Brave Soldiers, Prosperous Farmer Bill. This bill would take some of the newly cleared lands, and clear more lands with fertile lands within reach of the roads, and assign them to worthy non-Veteran Samurai that served in the current war, or the war eight years ago, or in the case of fallen soldiers, to their next of kin. Except being granted the use of this land, they will also receive free education in modern agricultural techniques, and lease the tools for it at a rate without intrest by the government. This will show the non-Samurai soldiers that they too are rewarded, while turning formerly idle land into a source of national prosperity.
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Feb 25, 2014 04:43
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Horace Capron My Brave Soldiers, Prosperous Farmers bill could also use some room in the budget. It would both increase the morale of the non-samurai defending the Republic and get us income in the coming years.
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Feb 26, 2014 23:45
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Horace Capron Well then, that was all extremely unpleasant, but onward and forward I suppose. Now, the Meiji would be quite foolish if they didn't think to try to capitalize on this. I will do my best to convince my own government and fellow American citizens to intervene on behalf of the Ezo Republic. Of course, understand that if the United States Government would intervene here, they would incur a cost there. If only for lost opportunities from trade with the Meiji. So, if I may be candid, gentlemen. When I try to convince one that the Ezo Republic would be a friend to the United States of America, I'll be asked to clarify how deep such a friendship runs. I can attempt to offer nothing concrete, simply that our continued existance would be worth the costs they would entail, and it might work. But if I would have the liberty to guarantee certain favoured trade arrangements, tax reliefs and other advantages, that would help.
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Mar 3, 2014 07:10
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Horace Capron I cannot fault the chief for his insistence. His people have already demonstratrd loyalty in ample amounts. Their current status is both unjust and harmful to the nation. In times of crisinational unity. This Right now is the hest time to set this to right.
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Mar 9, 2014 19:04
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Horace Capron For diplomatic reasons, I would very much recommend against the Anti-Chaos Act. I do not believe religious differences between different Christian faiths is the origin for any turmoil. However, freedom of religion is a cherished American value. Many say it is one of the reasons our nation was born. We have a great variety of Christian faiths in my nation, and we consider that not a problem. To pass this act just when I managed to draw the attention of the United States Government on this area, and more particularly the religious freedom the Ezo Republic provides, would make for an awkward situation, and may lose us supporters among Americans.
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Mar 14, 2014 13:59
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Horace Capron Should a central bank be established, I would volunteer to oversee it. I belief my outsider status is a boon. As I cannot acquire political power, so the neutrality of the bank is assured, and I have some amount of trust with those most likely to come to this bank for investments.
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Mar 15, 2014 04:25
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Horace Capron The good finance minister, Nagai Naoyuki and I have had a good conversation on the matter of the central bank. I understand his point that to have one who's not a citizen of this nation might send a wrong message to the people of our Republic. It might even reduce the prestige, as other nations might feel the need to take this nation less seriously if they cannot find a banker among their own. And so, I withdraw my candidature, and will instead focus on my function as economic adviser, as well as member of the board of the Gate to Prosperity bank. This should be ample responsibilities for a man of my age. But we have found a man worthy of these responsibilities. Tomita Tetsunosuke has the full support of both Mr. Nagai Naoyuki and myself. He and I are not in agreement on all issues, but we both favour a well run economy, and with this man at the tiller, we believe this will lead to more prosperity for the Ezo Republic.
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Mar 19, 2014 02:02
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Horace Capron I hope you will reconsider this. The economy's current growth is your work as well as mine of course, and it would be a great blow to our Republic indeed if you were to resign. This Red Eagle business will not go in the budget, which will be rational thing, being done by rational men.
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Mar 19, 2014 23:45
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Horace Capron Usually I'm not a man of grand statements. Economic work is most often all about banal and mundane things, but done with care and toil. But in these tumultuous times, history will skip over some things. And before the mists of time claim it, I want to speak of it. The merchants that were betrayed and murdered were some of the Ezo Republic's greatest financial minds. I understand that some do not understand how much they did for the Republic, and that only shows their worthiness. Like salt, like soil, like coal, they were the kind of men that don't take the grand stage, they're the ones that made sure the stage got built in the first place. They were either not samurai, or had only recently been given that honor for their contributions to the war. In this, many followed Katsu Kaishu. Why should they not? A Samurai, an accomplished financial mind, and often a defender of their interests. None can blame them for hearing out what the man had to say. And he betrayed them. He stabbed them in the back. These men were offered wealth and prosperity, if they would only betray the Ezo Republic. And they died because they refused to. Many of them were not samurai. Many of those who were, would get looked down upon by those from families with longer histories. They never wanted the world. They simply wanted to build something great. And it was taken from them, and they were taken from us. I mourn them. And I hope God will forgive that treacherous snake Katsu Kaishu and the Meiji masters whose thirty silvers he took. For I will not. Shogeton fucked around with this message at 03:56 on Mar 28, 2014 |
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Mar 28, 2014 03:51
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Horace Capron Now, there is a thing that should be mentioned. We are under an ultimatum, and have been given terms. I believe these terms are unacceptable, and we should fully reject them, and prepare for war.
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Apr 3, 2014 02:08
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Horace Capron Let me give some answers there as to the state of the Ezo economy, and the challenges it currently faces. If I might compare, Ezo is a fine and great racehorse, full of promise, but recently injured, and bereft of proper food. The clear issue is the murder of many of our best merchants at the hands of that treacherous snake's thugs. But many of them have heirs, and in time, and with guidance, their enterprises will not only survive, they will thrive. I know the merchant class of this land is not the most popular, but I can tell you that a merchant's determination will see him through the woods. There is the matter of what to do with the properties of the ones that left with the traitor. I suggest they are confiscated by the state and sold to the highest bidder, giving the government a good source of extra income. The other, more long term issue, acerbated by the current state of mobilization is the labor shortage. It already was a problem, but as the economy continues to develop, and more men are now in the army and militia, it is becoming an increasingly severe brake on our economy. I do my best at bringing Japanese from the mainland here, but this is difficult in the current circumstances. Once we inevitably sink their fleet, things should improve there. However, I would like to float the possibility of immigration again of non-Japanese. I understand this is a very sensitive issue, but we are still in a race with the Meiji. And we cannot afford anything holding us back. I propose, for example, to invite a strictly limited number of voluntary Chinese workers, say 5000,, to work for five years in Ezo. After which they will be returned to China with a small amount of wealth, which should carry them far in their famine wracked homeland. They would be strictly monitored, kept seperate from the population, and made clear they are here to work.
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Apr 5, 2014 18:01
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Horace Capron Please address him using the proper title, mister Brunet. It's not 'lapdog' Katsu, it's 'chicken' Kaishu. But levity tastes bitter now. Enomoto was more than a president, more than a commander. He was a statesman, and the world is a worse place for his loss.
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Apr 14, 2014 21:32
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Horace Capron I am gladdened by the removal of Matsudaira Sadaaki. This will definitely improve the diploamtic solution of the Ezo Republic. Now, there is the issue of the Meiji troops that are engaging in banditry. However, I have a proposal. These are men that might not want to fight to the death. They don't know whether there's another option for them to do anything else than supply themselves with robbery and theft. And of course, they are not samurai. They are mainly conscripts. I believe that we can turn this problem into an opportunity. Thus I propose the Their Swords into Our Plowshares act. That any of the Meiji forces currently on the Ezo Republic be allowed to surrender their arms and either be returned to their homeland, or choose to build a new life here if they so choose. Any man who chooses this is a man who we will not need to fight, it might be a man willing to work, or if we send him home, speak well of us. It will improve our standing in the world, and draw us as the civilized nation, compared to the barbaric Meiji. Something sorely needed right now. Also, might some of us speak to the foreign ambassador that asks our help? It's not really my position to speak first, but we've been ignoring him.
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Apr 24, 2014 01:09
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| # ¿ Apr 23, 2025 15:35 |
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Horace Capron So, let me ask something of all those who are interested in. We've won victories in war, but war has its price. In money, in lives, and in other things. Let me be clear. I am an adviser, and whatever Ezo does, I will be with it all the way. Do we intend to wage this war hotly until the Meiji falls? Or are there conditions under which we would accept a truce, or perhaps even as lasting peace. With out current victories, our negotiation position is strong, French or no French. We might wish a return of Sado. Or we might simply wish them to leave us alone. Perhaps we should simply let time be the judge, rather than war. My personal view is that if we were able to get a long term truce without any tribute towards the Meiji, we should take it. What think others of this?
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May 8, 2014 19:03
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