Tax policy was still only an intention. How far it would ultimately go depended on the actual circumstances. Apart from those directly involved, most people were indifferent.
Colonial and homeland integration was another matter altogether. The moment the Vienna Government let slip a hint of it, it swiftly sparked heated public debate.
Supporters and opponents tore into each other in the newspapers every day. Even hot topics like the Prusso-Russian War, negotiations with the United States, and the Russian navy being bullied by pirates were pushed aside.
Public opinion was not one-sided; supporters and opponents fought to a standstill. This reassured Franz—integration seemed fairly likely to pass in the Imperial Parliament.
As Emperor, he had the power to force a decision through, but Franz had never done so.
On the surface, it looked imposing, displaying the monarch's authority as one whose word carried the weight of nine tripods. In reality, however, it carried enormous hidden political risks. If the decision was right, that was only to be expected; if it went wrong, the Emperor would have to bear responsibility.
No one could guarantee they would never make mistakes. What was more, even a correct decision was still a mistake if it appeared at the wrong time and in the wrong place.
The Imperial Parliament was the highest authority of the New Holy Roman Empire. One of its functions was to take the blame; major political decisions generally had to make a trip through it.
This was the political fallback Franz had prepared. If some major problem arose and he did not want the Cabinet to step down, he could still make the Imperial Parliament take responsibility.
After so many years of restructuring, the Imperial Parliament was no longer composed of just the handful of people it had once been. The