Generalissimo Nicholas Estuardo had risen to become leader of Spain on a reputation for incorruptibility and hawkish nationalism combined with his sheer force of will and overpowering personality. Having gained the support of the military with his displays of courage on the field of battle and brilliant tactical and strategic moves in the Great War he had won the respect of all.
Like most European leaders Estuardo was a pupil to of von Clausewitz work Vom Kreige which advocated that war should be seen as an extension of political policy and not an end to itself. He had discussed it extensively with military strategists to ensure he understood the meaning. Clausewitz insisted that “to introduce into the philosophy of war a principle of moderation would be an act of absurdity. War is an act of violence pushed to its utmost bounds”
The rise of the Madrid Commune and the Spanish socialist had strengthened this view. He had moved quickly with the support of the military to crush the socialists and he had done so splendidly.
Yet he was not satisfied, because the Fatherland was not satisfied. The Spanish people were a wounded people. A hurt people, attacked by the British and Portuguese in the Great War, betrayed by their closest allies with notable exception to the US, and when the moment of victory came they received no spoils, only table scraps. The Spanish national pride, the Spanish consciousness was wounded, bitter, and hateful. This seemed to be an unfortunate cycle, Spain was trapped in an endless tailspin of stagnation, mediocrity, and decay. Until now.
He would not allow the Fatherland to be humiliated once more. No matter what the cost.
Loudspeakers broadcasted the national anthem schoolchildren packed ten deep, lined the pavements each holding the national flag and raising it high above their heads. Military vehicles rolled slowly down the streets mostly armored cars, and a few warker prototypes that Spain had managed to acquire. Ahead of them marched lines of Spanish soldiers while behind them artillery of various sorts was towed. The mood of the crowd was festive and the greeted the soldiers with flowers and gifts.
It was then Estuardo chose to make his address. Flanked by generals and the he climbed to the podium to address the people who had gathered here to hear him speak. “ Our work will go down in the history of mankind demonstrating that the Spanish people have now stood up. The Spanish have always been a great, courageous, and industrious nation. It is in only modern times we have fallen behind. From now on our nation will belong to the community of peace loving and the freedom loving nations of the world and work courageously and industriously, to foster it’s own civilization and well being and at the same time promote world peace and freedom."
He paused and drew a breath "Yet there are those who oppose this work, and threaten Spanish values and all they stand for. Who you ask? I will tell you! The Socialists, the Liberals, the Progressives, and the Democrats!" he roared sweeping his hand across the great square. “They are in league with the English and Portuguese! Foreign powers like vultures swoop closer in on the Fatherland! And what do these liberals, democrats, and socialists do? They help them! When our brave soldiers were on the cusp of victory they were treacherously stabbed in the back! The liberals, the democrats, the socialists are traitors! Spain's lifeblood its sweet limpieza de sangre was poured down the drain by these scum! ” cries of anger went up from the crowd
"These empty minded fools who believe in idealistic drams! They want to make Spain weak! Long have they desired the dismemberment of the Fatherland! No I say! Ours will no longer be a nation subject to insult and humiliation. We have stood up. Our Revolution has won the sympathy and acclaim of the people of all countries. We have friends all over the world. The era in which the Spanish people were regarded as weak has now ended. We shall emerge in the world as a nation with an advanced culture. We shall be strong and feared. Our work will be long and hard, our trials and travails many. Democracy has failed, liberalism has failed, and socialism has been crushed. Fascism is the way forward. Liberalism, democracy, and socialism these are the scourges afflicting our great nation! The cancer of our society! They must be crushed! Destroy their homes, burn their belongings, strike them down wherever they stand!" he shouted, “Our military will be greater than ever before! Our war machine shall be unstoppable, invincible! Spain shall be mighty and no one will dare threthan us and attack us ever again!
"And we shall triumph! And we shall conquer! The time of our rise is neigh today is the day for a new Spain a greater Spain than has ever existed before!" he lifted his hands high into the air and for one shining moment of glory the people say his vision rear up before them in all its majesty.
“This centaury will be a Spanish centaury!
The response was overwhelming. The crows roared swelling like a wave. Every man there felt his heart fill with national pride. People stamped and screamed, women and men wept.
The Spanish nation had arisen.
