[Guest speaker] Alexandreu Davinescu.

[Glüc]

Our first guest speaker is a former RUMP Seneschal and currently represents the RUMP in the cosa and the assembly of Maritiimi-Maxhestic. He is a member of the Royal Talossan Bar and Profeßeir Acreditat in the Senäts Academic dal Üniversità Talossan. We are very pleased and honoured that he is willing to speak here for us. Please help me welcome S:reu Alexandreu Davinescu!

[ad]

Greetings, Moderate Radicals of Talossa, and thank you for inviting me to address your first Congress. I am honoured and grateful for the opportunity, both on my own behalf and for the RUMP.

Today, I will write of the ship of state and our future course.

As I write, we have begun a new era of the nation. For the first time in a very long time, there is only a single and united Talossa. The clique based around former King Ben - the "Madison Kingdom" - has descended into silence and stillness, and in time Robert Ben Madison may grow to appreciate that it is a good thing that the nation he envisioned has outgrown him, even if that means that it has surpassed his grasp. And it seems like mere moments since those who once belonged to the Republic of Talossa have reached an accord with us and with themselves and rejoined the nation - yet even now I cannot imagine how we ever managed without them. There is a single, united, glorious Talossa... and that is our challenge.

We are the stewards of that tradition, now - the captains of that ship. All of us: old-growthers, cybercits, former Republicans, Dandelions, peculiarists, derivativists, republicans, royalists, heralds, legislators, and all the other sorts of Talossan that are found in our nation: it is our responsibility to man the sails of our ship of state. We have been a trio of boats, racing each other in small waters. Now there is only one vessel, and the wide ocean stretches before us. We can set whatever course we please - or we could sink, if we make poor choices.

We have a wide range of political parties that are active and working for the betterment of the nation. Even when I have found the disagreements frustrating, I have reveled in the fact that they are a sign of a healthy Talossa. But as we discuss the heading of this ship, I believe that both the Moderate Radicals and the RUMP can agree on some important principles by which we can make our course.

One of these principles is democracy. Both parties - and all parties, I think! - strive towards ensuring a continuance of stable and secure elections. With recent malfeasance along those lines, as electoral fraud swelled the Cosa and party rolls, all parties should be able to come together and pledge to work to establish immigration laws that will ensure we have no more such long-running frauds, while also avoiding any barriers that might discourage otherwise enthusiastic new immigrants. Ultimately, I believe that this will be resolved not by some middling combination of paperwork requirements, but by a human touch. And that touch can only ever help our country, by evolving our discourse past Wittenberg. With such measures in place, we will grow closer as a community and we will help ensure that every citizen gets one vote.

Another principle is monarchy, working side-by-side with democracy. This principle is rather more contentious in some quarters, as there are Talossans who wish to see the monarchy either eradicated or reduced to a ceremonial figurehead. Yet I think both the RUMP and the Moderate Radicals can agree on the wisdom of the monarchy. It's not just a matter of tradition. Tradition is important, as it helps provide a sense of longevity and gravitas to our delicately small country, but it's not the most important factor. We know that we retain the monarchy, though, not just because we've always had one, but because it works for Talossa. It helps ensure that even during the rough times, there is a person to stand up and take responsibility beyond doubt, and to say, "This is Talossa." The King is not and should not be the whole choir, but he is someone who can sing the strong solo - if we need it. We have needed it before, and we may need it again.

Another principle goes hand-in-hand with the other two, and that is the Organic Law. It guides the will of the people and helps give it shape; it empowers and limits the King and helps require a serious monarch. In our ship of state, these three principles stand strong and stable. If we rely on them, and rig our sails from them, as though they were our reliable masts, we can power our nation forward out to destinations we might never have imagined.

We live in perilous and exciting times. The water is wide before us. Our ship is strong and tight. Our crew argues and disagrees, but only in pursuit of common goals. Let us keep our masts tall: democracy, monarchy, and law. And if we do, it will be clear sailing, over the horizon.

[Glüc]

* applause *

[Lüc]

*applause too* Thank you, S:r Davinescu.

[Alèxandreu]

I applaud S:r Davinescu for this speech, rational and well-said.