Chapter 132

Chapter 132

Election is War (4)

Although I always said bright red neighborhood whenever describing Birmingham, Birmingham is absolutely not Pyongyang or Moscow. Just a very progressive and reform-thirsting climate.

- Isn’t that the same sound?

Heaven and earth difference.

As can know from the radical faction ultimately joining hands with the Whig Party, Peelites and founding the Liberal Party the radical faction absolutely did not deny parliamentary politics or aim to overthrow capitalism. Just all-criticized both the Conservative Party and Whig Party as lukewarm on reform.

In the current era socialism itself is not yet a great ideology standing out. Even the <​Communist Manifesto> was undervalued as mere agitation leaflets and ended at German domestic use degree. I am making such a fuss because I know the furry’s heavenly demon divine art seizes half the world.

So receiving a bit of the furry’s help will be fine.

Probably.

After hearing the extremely subjective advice and counsel of the heavenly demon and left guardian I stood up from the seat.

“Sincerely thank you for helping like this. When planning to return to London?”

“Already?”

No, what already you crazy guy.

“Coming from London to this distant Birmingham fatigue accumulated too much. Fine resting a bit and going?”

“Heum heum. Of course not difficult for us to catch acquaintances or lodging here either, but how about exchanging a bit more stories about workers’ rights together?”

These guys.

No thought of going home.

The mind to sit here and watch while picking up popcorn what I do!

The heart wanting to become Sword Master Go Gil-dong and chase these guys out immediately was like a chimney, but unfortunately there is etiquette of entertaining guests in the world. Let alone those guests came receiving my invitation.

“Hahaha. Good. Think of it as your house and stay comfortably!”

“Really thank the hospitality, Representative Lee.”

Right.

These guys too seeing my steps will quickly realize I am mere a pure... reformist with no connection to socialism.

Right and more.

- Will it work, stupid.

Be quiet this livestock.

***

19th century democracy is too unfamiliar and strange to 21st century people.

Plus the big difference of presidential system and cabinet responsibility system entangled, so a 21st century Korean understanding 19th century British politics is a harder thing than thought.

For example.

Koreans can intuitively know when the next election will be. Except some peculiar cases, local councils and mayors and National Assembly members all have fixed terms.

But Britain is different.

Legally the House of Commons members’ term is maximum 7 years, and the last election was in 1859. So in a Korean’s mind the next election must be in 1866.

But due to the characteristic of the cabinet system, the thing of that term being kept almost none.

Occasionally changing the prime minister or no-confidence in the cabinet and a mess zig zag, and if a big fight whether ruling party or opposition party ends up drawing guns and swords and shouting ‘come out to the polling station these bastards’.

Especially until a few years ago when the Conservative Party, Peelites, Whig Party, radical faction, Irish independence activists etc. mixed and made a mess occasionally both prime minister necks and member necks flew deng gang deng gang amicably. There were times the prime minister changed once a year.

However now the Liberal Party grand unification done.

The Conservative Party lost the power to seize the regime, and even Queen Victoria does not want the ruling party to change.

So in the Liberal Party leadership including Prime Minister Palmerston stories coming out of doing the election when no particular political incidents and approval rating okay and renewing the term rather than filling 7 years full unnecessarily.

So, here once had to meet the incumbent member lords.

Who knows?

One of the two might just say will retire.

Then compete over the empty seat, or else just somehow sabba sabba and receive as successor smoothly. Honestly I will just taste as member exactly once and immediately receive the title and move to the upper house. Just let me be a House of Commons member exactly once!!

Birmingham House of Commons member number 1. William Scholefield.

First Birmingham mayor.

Thereafter held high positions in Birmingham local government.

Serving as Birmingham House of Commons member from 47 until now. Birmingham Chamber of Commerce chairman. Birmingham and Midland Bank director etc.

Political opinions?

Claim income tax reduction.

Claim abolition of stamp duty, abolition of newspaper tax.

Strongly support bill prohibiting playing with food.

Strongly support American Civil War North.

And support Chartist movement.

- What. A normal person?

Eheo. Top 1% by this era’s standard. Playing with food is a legitimate merchant’s act. If annoyed just not buy fine.

This person is literally Birmingham local boss of local bosses so let’s look at another person once.

Birmingham House of Commons member number 2, John Bright.

A great orator who debuted with anti-Corn Law struggle in the late 30s.

A mass mobilization ability person of shocking level by this 19th century standard.

Nonconformist, Quaker,

Oppose Crimean War.

Oppose American Civil War intervention.

Support suffrage expansion.

Durham House of Commons member from 43 to 47.

Manchester House of Commons member from 47 to 57.

Birmingham House of Commons member from 57 until now.

Right.

If Scholefield is Birmingham’s stagnant local notable, John Bright is a famous politician of a level that will remain long in history.

Above all this person.

A political comrade relationship with acquaintance with Gladstone.

- Fucked?

Right. Both too big shots to push out. The more investigating something the appearance a bit so.

In this case, the orthodox is simple.

Visit and raise a big grudge once, then tearful appeal saying please give opportunity to this unworthy junior for the future of the Liberal Party and liberalism. Anyway if really fighting with real swords the possibility of winning slim so rather rely on the opponent’s favor.

Perhaps this the picture Palmerston wanted?

Although said broke with Gladstone still connecting me who has solid solidarity with him to John Bright and old radical faction personnel. Isn’t it a conception that sinister old monster would do without telling me?

But if going according to this flow really will it work.

No, can I be satisfied with that.

In the yard where the heavenly demon and left guardian who will redden half the world are lying in our house guest room, a 21st century Korean who would not even have heard the names of what what whats whimpering afraid of their political position? The best conscientious intellectual of this era equipped with future knowledge Arthur Lee?

Ah!

Right!

At that moment, I obtained some realization.

Is this mere election a big deal now?

What is the mission given to me. Precisely the alteration of history.

- Not mission but nose pierced?

The guy whose nose is pierced saying such suddenly wanting to treat Palmerston one bowl of dog meat soup. Will boil thoroughly in 19th century British style really.

Anyway right.

Thought the best method to sharply bend world history is seizing the British prime minister seat so tried to become a member.

But, now I bowing the head to a mere Birmingham member lord and begging please bestow mercy on this lowly small person?

- No. Those Birmingham members are monsters.

An ordinary 21st century Korean who has never read alternate history does not know Palmerston or Gladstone or Disraeli! Among British prime ministers the person famous enough for Koreans to know is probably only Churchill?

- Is the case of remembering another country’s prime minister that frequent?

American presidents have many named. Japanese prime ministers also quite famous kids many.

So this Arthur Lee aiming for the alteration of history must not yield here.

Not just becoming prime minister, must become a very great and extraordinary prime minister that future Koreans know just hearing the name for the probability of preserving life to rise.

No compromise.

All or nothing.

Cleanly gave up the first thought of going to visit and raising greetings.

- Then?

Make them come visit.

Making those oldbies acknowledge that this Arthur Lee is precisely the talent of a thousand ages who will inherit their reform spirit!

Proving that not those old bones but this seat is precisely the superhuman riding the cold blood horse that Birmingham so sought!

- This bastard, definitely didn’t you say until a little while ago radical faction and communists are different? Why gradually becoming redder?

Originally the industry national rule that evil path guys submit to the demonic cult. Evil path without cult alliance or black heaven alliance or whatever usually falls to demonic cult sword receiver. Seen a Korean who does not know communism? Seen a guy who does not know Marx?

Appropriately what kills a person is not the sword but the person holding the sword.

Similarly even the vicious heavenly demon’s demonic art, if the furry trying to dye the world with blood and hatred uses it demonic art but if this Arthur Lee trying to save the world uses it of course peerless divine art.

No. Wait. From the beginning this was not demonic art either. Why is 21st century modified capitalism demonic art? Just the reds stole it!

Roughly organized.

With the overwhelming authority of the 21st century, sweep all the dazed guys saying ‘wow we seem very radical’ with mere trivial tariff abolition or church rate abolition or whatever.

Instead of going to greet the member lords.

I immediately went out to the street.

***

[Arthur Lee, joins the Liberal Party!]

[Announcement of impressions to Liberal Party members and citizens who love Birmingham!]

Even in the 19th century leaflets strictly exist.

Arthur declared will give a speech to the public, and people naturally curiosity arose that the legendary castaway and scholar and inventor and factory owner now will do politics.

Of course Liberal Party members, incumbent members also the same curious.

“Said Prime Minister Palmerston urged Lee to run?”

“The mind that cannot unnecessarily lose a young talent to the Conservative Party.”

The two incumbent members took seats at an appropriately distant place and waited for Arthur to appear.

Birmingham member, John Bright.

He was born in a wealthy Quaker factory owner family in Rochdale.

Such him had innate talent, precisely unmatched speech skill.

He led a movement opposing the church rate in his hometown Rochdale.

He toured the whole country to give speeches opposing the Corn Laws, and before knowing countless people waited only for his speeches. With only the power of speech he rose to number 2 of the anti-Corn Law group.

Although occasionally slipped in elections due to thorough beliefs in pacifism and anti-war, places looking for the great orator Mr. Bright were everywhere. If he lost he received invitations to another neighborhood and seized the member position there.

“Still if a young friend dreams of running must come at least once to greet the local party or incumbent members... ei!”

“Hehehe. If coming to greet will hand over the member seat?”

At Scholefield’s mischievous question Bright shook his head.

“Cannot hand over obediently. Why did the prime minister pick Birmingham of all places?”

“To taste the bitter taste of defeat once?”

“I think so. If not that...”

“Meaning the noisy radical faction origin ones step back.”

Scholefield born 1809, Bright 1811. Age difference with Arthur distant.

Although Arthur Lee is operating various internal welfare in his own way, from the beginning whose sponsorship did that friend grow? Gladstone and Palmerston from the Conservative Party. Of course the conservative tendency will be thick.

“Anyway stories rampant of receiving a title and going to the upper house, fine even tasting the bitter taste of losing once.”

“If not knowing how much Birmingham citizens here thirst for reform must lose. Of course.”

And.

Arthur appeared.

“Gentlemen and ladies who love Birmingham! All citizens who want freedom and reform, rights and protection! <​Lee Gears>’ Arthur Lee, greets like this today!!”

“Waaaaa!!!”

“Arthur Lee! Arthur Lee!!”

As soon as he appeared and detached the first words countless onlookers responded enthusiastically. A considerable number were <​Lee Gears> employees or planted wind catchers in advance but anyway the atmosphere instantly heated up.

Gentlemen wearing frock coats, local notables, workers, naked and hungry beggars, ladies who came out to watch, plus the heavenly demon and left guardian literally various human groups watching him.

Arthur waved both arms passionately.

“People ask me. Why suddenly doing politics. Why trying to do such a headache-inducing thing peeking at this Birmingham! Not even London the birthplace this Birmingham!”

“Voice good.”

“Feeling like sticking tightly in the ears. That also talent.”

Even while the two members evaluated he continued the speech.

“My answer is simple! Precisely this Birmingham is the place that can change the British Empire and the world! Isn’t that so everyone!!”

“Right!! Right!!”

“Waaaaaaa!!”

“Operating a factory and giving employees a bit more weekly wage and providing clothing could not change the country! Could not help the naked and hungry and sick and ill! So came out to this seat. Become a member and go to Westminster! Help the suffering and change this country into a richer and cooler country!”

“Orthodox.”

“No substance.”

The public was enthusiastic, but the middle class and above who actually hold the votes still the atmosphere of watching.

Arthur clenched both fists and shook vigorously.

“Then what on earth must convey to the old bones of London? What demands to make and push through for this country to become better. I assert!!

That is precisely, the introduction of insurance and pension targeting all the people!”

People did not understand.

Those who understood doubted their ears.

“The life that ends the moment limbs cut off while turning machines at the factory! The life that goes straight to the grave if unluckily catches a chronic disease once! Is there a human who wants to end life like this! Do you want to live like that and die?!”

“No!! No!!”

“Shout following! We are not machines!”

“We are not machines!!”

“We are people!!”

“We are people!!”

“We want the right to receive treatment!”

“We want the right to receive treatment!”

“We want the right not to die on the street even when old!”

“We want the right not to die on the street even when old!”

“This is pure agitation!!”

In the middle of shabby-looking workers singing in chorus with Arthur from all sides, a middle-aged man impressive with a cool silk hat pointed at Arthur and shouted angrily.

“Representative Lee! Politics is not kids’ play! Not something that works just agitating like that!”

“Everyone! Shout following! Arthur Lee did it!!”

“Arthur Lee did it!!”

“<​Lee Gears> did it!!”

“<​Lee Gears> did it!!”

“If someone asks I will shout confidently! All workers working under this Arthur Lee had the right to receive treatment, the right to live a peaceful remaining life after retiring! Mere a very easy right even a factory owner can guarantee but the rulers of this country only turned away because annoying and a few pennies regrettable!!”

Whether the furry watching this scene from far away trembled all over or not Arthur did not care.

“I did it! Not crazy agitation or absurd bullshit or cloud-catching sound like the arrival of the Lord’s millennium kingdom! This Arthur Lee! Will guarantee life to you all!”

“Euaaaaaaa!!!”

“Manse!! Manse!!”

“Please join the <​Birmingham Reform Citizens’ Union>! Those who will help me and hold the lamp of reform and freedom please join this union! Membership fee just 1 penny! Protect your freedom and rights with 1 penny!!”

“All get out of the way!”

“I will join first!!”

The atmosphere entered the realm of madness beyond enthusiasm.

Those who were shouting in front all ran out to the podium regardless of you or me, and those who were only watching with arms crossed at this overwhelming crowd heat one by one uncrossed arms and opened mouths wide.

One youth was controlling all those gathered here.

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