An outline of the book 1900 ~ Or: The Last President by Ingersol Lockwood
https://archive.org/details/1900orlastpresid00lock/page/n8
==Ingersol Lockwood=
Author of: Baron Trump's Marvelous Underground Journey
Laconics of Cult
Part 1 (truncated for board)
Opening Scene - 3 November, 1896 - NYC - Presidential Election night William McKinley (R-OH) vs. William Jennings Bryant (D-NE)
Overview
In this story, Bryant beats McKinley, as the Commoner's candidate. People riot against the rich. Mobs form in exuberant celebration to destroy the wealthy and powerful who have oppressed them. The Reserve currency is derided as the source of misery and is to be destroyed. People are promised to be delivered from their decades of want, misery and austerity. Bryant has promised them everything. They march to Washington DC with the errant belief that the government will give 2:1 for their cheap silverware in exchange for real silver money. Everything gets nationalized. Socialism gains traction. The Republic hangs in the balance.
Chapter II
The riots are quelled by the military, at the orders of the Governor, leaving many protestors dead. Bryant had run an amazing campaign, 500 speeches in 100 days! The "people" were whipped into a frenzy, demanding immediate fulfillment of the dreams and promises.
The people believe the, "usurers and barterers of human toil," have been driven out of power and that their ascension to equality was imminent. Bryant is deemed, "The Savior."
Chapter IV
On Inauguration Day, 4 March, 1897, the sun never rises. Campaign promises are forgotten. The announcements for Cabinet appointments made during the campaign, don't materialize, others instead taking their place. Bryant signs his first EO, abandoning the Gold reserve and resuming the Gold and Silver standard. Wall Street crashes hard…very hard. The masses carry brooms as their symbolic weapon of "cleaning house".
First act of the 55th Congress
The Coinage Act of 1873 is repealed, and the US mints are opened for free coinage minting at a Gold to Silver ratio of 16:1. This was followed by an Income Tax on the wealthy. The Filibuster is stricken from the Senate to prevent it from blocking or slowing any of Bryant's legislation. The Civil Service system is reformed to "clean house". National Banks are repealed from existence. Threats of Secession begin to circulate in Congress. The ruling party sneers, gloating over their win. [Elections have consequences, I suppose] New states are added, and Texas is divided. The losing party is livid.
=Chapter VI
Everything gets Nationalized
The federal government is re-organized to provided 0% interest farm loans. The railroads, telegraph line, and all interstate commerce is owned and controlled by new government agencies. The Republicans fight against all of the changes but fail. The populism of "destroying the rich" has taken full control and replaced any semblance of logic.
Chapter VII
Bryant's Gov't is unable to maintain 16:1 gold/silver parity. Congress blames Wall Street meddling. Everyone goes nuts in search of more silver, doing anything to acquire more silver wealth. Heavy taxes are laid upon the "wealthy" to rectify the situation. Luxury taxes, estate taxes, taxes on writing a check, taxes upon incorporating a business, yacht taxes, taxes on foreign travel, duties on imported luxuries; basically, anything related to "wealth hoarders" is taxed into oblivion. It becomes a felony to make a profit from the rise of fall of the value of bonds. The value of "The People's Dollar" begins a long slow decline. Silver becomes so devalued that barter becomes the preferred method of exchange. Debtors and Debt collectors alike require assistants to carry the massive amounts of low value silver coins to settle their debts.
Chapter VIII - The Fateful Year of '99
With everything in shambles, Bryant cries, "My country, oh, my country, how willingly would I give my life for thee, if by such a sacrifice I could restore thee to thy old time prosperity" [Call for MAGA?] The South makes many gains in national political seats and lobbies to repeal the Tobacco Tax, as they argue their debt for the Civil War has been paid, many times over, to the enrichment of the businessmen of the North. Fears of a Second Rebellion underpin the movement of troops in and about Washington D.C. Democrats raise the alarm of "TREASON" at the southerners demands for reduced taxes. Bryant is ineffective and under-prepared for the challenges. He pales and says, "…the sceptre of power…had grown [to a] crown of thorns…being pressed down with cruel hands upon his own [head]."