After today's events, Samuel Adams decided to incite Jefferson to form a truly unified Democratic faction, or even a Democratic Party. The goal of this faction's struggle was to uphold people's democracy, and their interest was to strive to exercise civil rights on behalf of the people in the name of democracy. In other words, it was to share a portion of power from authoritarians in the name of democracy.
With this practical goal, Jefferson's Democratic faction was finally truly established.
When Samuel Adams proposed the idea of forming a regular faction to Jefferson and others, it quickly received the support of most Democratic members. Furthermore, due to the refinement of the faction's goals and interests, it attracted many new members. However, the establishment of a political party was wisely rejected by Jefferson on the spot, stating that it was not yet the right time.
As one of the factions in the Continental Congress that could contend with Charles' financial interest faction, the Democratic faction was the first to complete its formal establishment. In reality, the Democratic faction, reorganized at Samuel's suggestion, was already much like a political party, far more complete and mature than Charles' and other factions. However, due to a lack of accumulated time, incomplete organization and ideology, and Jefferson's own suppression, it did not become an official political party.
In fact, its subsequent reorganization into an official political party was a step earlier than Charles' financial interest faction. It was the first among all factions to propose its own party slogan and directly establish a political party.
Charles did not know that his aggressive words had stirred Samuel Adams' desire to incite Jefferson to form a political party. He still followed his original arrangements and returned directly to the castle. He had lunch with Councilor Bonis, who had been invited to the castle as a guest, and who was the former Bonis Town Mayor.
As the Bonis family, who were intermarried with the Godfrey Family, their family gained increasing political and economic benefits as Charles' political status grew. Just supplying Picric acid to the Continental army and other major projects had already allowed the Bonis family to earn a good sum.
Another thing that pleased the Bonis family even more was that old Bonis, who was enthusiastic about officialdom, was recommended to serve as a member of the Pennsylvania Public Security Committee shortly after being elected as a state councilor. This was entirely the result of Charles' help as a relative by marriage.
"Sir Bonis, please try this Oriental delicacy—grouse stewed with pine nuts. It is absolutely perfect in color, aroma, and taste. According to Eastern tradition, this is also a famous dish that combines gourmet food and artistic conception!" Charles smiled as he introduced the luncheon menu to old Bonis, his guest.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Councilor Charles. In all of Philadelphia, no, it should be said in all of America, only here can one taste such a delicacy!" Bonis said, complimenting appropriately while dining.
Although official matters are generally not discussed during meals, such polite exchanges are still necessary.
After enjoying the sumptuous lunch, Charles accompanied old Bonis and James' family. They set up a tea table and a few rocking chairs on the lawn outside the castle, where they drank tea and basked in the sun.
"Councilor Charles, James told me that you are about to increase the procurement of Picric acid and have our family's workshop expand the scale of Picric acid production?" Councilor Bonis asked Charles after taking a sip of tea.
"Haha! Yes, my explosives laboratory in Pittsburgh, after more than a year of experimentation, has finally developed a method to safely and quickly detonate Picric acid. At this rate, in less than half a year, Picric acid can be used in the propellant charges for artillery. At that time, I will definitely have the Military and Ordnance Committee increase the procurement of Picric acid, so I am reminding you now to expand Picric acid production first, to avoid supply shortages later on." Charles said with a smile.
After more than a year of research, the detonator was finally developed by those dozen or so Philadelphia College researchers.
Charles was helpless about them taking so long to develop the detonator. He had already told them everything he knew as much as possible, but he didn't expect it to still take so long. If it had been developed half a year earlier, it could have been used in the Defense of Philadelphia. Even if it had been developed just one month earlier, it could have been used in the ongoing Charlestown campaign.
Instead, it only came out now that the Charlestown campaign had already begun. Even if it were mass-produced immediately, by the time the precise artillery charge usage was tested, it would at most only catch the tail end of the Charlestown campaign.
Charles was speechless about those few explosives researchers. They first developed safe explosives and then the detonator, not only in the wrong order but also greatly reducing their usefulness, turning something that could have completely changed the course of the war into reserve supplies for future battles.
Although Charles immediately asked them to continue their research after they developed the detonator, to see if they could develop primer charges for artillery shells and truly achieve artillery shelling. Because he thought that the explosive power of Picric acid was several times stronger than black gunpowder, it should be able to compensate for some of the lost explosive power, thereby achieving the explosive power that black gunpowder could not provide, and thus shell projectiles could also be attempted.
However, given the previous performance of these researchers, Charles no longer held much hope for them.
"A new detonation method has been developed?" Bonis had just heard this news and naturally appeared much more excited than Charles.
Charles just nodded, without revealing what the new detonation method was.
Detonators are something that can bring huge profits. As soon as his production formula was released, Charles had already registered it with the newly established Patent Office of the Continental Congress. At the same time, he sent people through the safe route in New Orleans to Europe to register the patent. This thing will be announced sooner or later, but now is not the time.
"Is this true? The explosive power of Picric acid is much stronger than black gunpowder. As long as there is a safe detonation method, then in the future, won't it be able to replace black gunpowder and become the propellant for muskets and cannons?"
Gunpowder, explosives, and similar products, as long as they are still used in combat, their huge consumption represents that producing them is a very high-profit industry. When Bonis heard that Picric acid had achieved a safe detonation method, the first thing he thought of was the huge profits that would come from it.
Just providing black gunpowder to the Thirteen American Colonies cultivated the Virginia Company into one of the most profitable companies in Asia. Bonis could certainly imagine that by replacing black gunpowder, his own family would also become one of the most profitable families, just like the Virginia Company.
"No! sir Bonis, I think you misheard a point. I only said that Picric acid can be used in artillery, not that it can be used in muskets. So, for Picric acid to replace black gunpowder and become the only military propellant, it is currently impossible. Hmm. Because long-term contact with metal can easily cause explosions, its instability means it is unlikely to become the sole propellant for cannons in the future." Charles said calmly.
The safest detonation method for Picric acid is to use a detonator. Using a detonator in muskets or bullets is obviously somewhat difficult. And in reality, even if it could be used in bullets, because of the chemical reaction that occurs when Picric acid is in long-term contact with metal, it is very prone to explosion. So it is basically unlikely to become the main propellant for bullets and shells.
This is also why Charles did not keep the production of Picric acid in his own hands. The sales of Picric acid are foreseeable. Relatively speaking, the safe explosives developed by those few researchers, which are also detonated by detonators, have much greater development prospects in this regard than Picric acid.
Charles has already commissioned the people at the Kiel Laboratory to build a factory for nitroglycerin and safe explosives near Pittsburgh. Those safe explosives are his main military explosives.
"Only for cannons!" Bonis was a little disappointed, but then he thought that even just for cannons, it would be a huge order, enough to generate a huge extra fortune for his family. So, in the end, he still smiled broadly:
"Following Councilor Charles is indeed like following the God of Wealth!"
"Haha! sir Bonis, as long as you follow me, I will never mistreat my own people." Charles was not stingy with empty promises.
Bonis, of course, immediately understood and nodded repeatedly, promising that he would absolutely listen to Councilor Charles, follow Councilor Charles, and no matter when or who they faced, their Bonis family would firmly stand with Councilor Charles.
Finally, he thought about it and tentatively asked:
"I heard that Councilor Charles has established a factional organization. I wonder if I have the honor to join it?"
It wasn't that Bonis received benefits today and then, on a whim, wanted to join the organization led by Charles. In fact, Bonis Town Mayor had this idea a long time ago. Unfortunately, in the earliest days, the members of Charles' financial interest faction were mostly Continental Congress Representatives, holding very high positions. old Bonis was worried that his status was not high enough to join. Now, as the financial interest faction expanded, with young people like Hamilton also becoming members, old Bonis dared to tentatively ask if he could join.
When Charles first organized the financial interest faction, he already had plans to establish a political party in the future. It's just that the conditions were not yet ripe, making it difficult to establish one. Although he had never engaged in political parties before and didn't know what procedures to follow, Charles knew that he should try to absorb people with similar identities and interests.
"Hahahaha! sir Bonis, in fact, even if you hadn't said anything, I was already preparing to invite you to join our faction. As a member of the major financial enterprises in Pennsylvania, your stance and interests should be consistent with ours. I now formally, on behalf of our financial interest faction, invite you to join our organizational faction. What do you think?" Charles took the initiative to extend the invitation to show his respect for Bonis.
"It is my honor, Your Excellency Councilor Charles." Bonis solemnly accepted. "Then from today onwards, I am a member of the financial interest faction."
For an informal faction, there is of course no need for special solemnity. But in old Bonis' view, Charles' current invitation was already considered an invitation from a political party organization and should be treated with caution.
His cautious attitude made Charles feel a little embarrassed.
"Sir Bonis, although our financial interest faction is the most clearly targeted and united faction in the Continental Congress, it is not yet a political party organization. You don't need to be so cautious."
"That's exactly what I find strange, Your Excellency Councilor Charles. Now that the financial interest faction's goals and beliefs are very clear, why don't you simply lead us to form an official political party?" Bonis asked eagerly.
As an old fellow who had been a town mayor for several decades, even though he had just become a state councilor, he was definitely a seasoned politician. He knew that by supporting Charles, a powerful figure, to establish a political party at this time, he himself would exist as a founding member. This would inevitably bring him huge benefits, so he very much hoped that Charles could heed his advice and immediately establish a political party.
"Haha! How easy is it to establish a political party!" Charles said casually, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
From his understanding of the major political parties in the 21st-century world, he felt they could generally be divided into two categories: rigid political parties with rigid programs and flexible political parties. The differences between these two forms were too great, making it difficult for him to choose between them.
Rigid political parties have strict party constitutions, consistent over the long term. Party discipline is relatively strict, members are registered, and sometimes undergo vetting and screening, making it difficult to join casually. Their central and grassroots organizational structures are relatively clear, with clearly defined daily operations and clear executive leadership powers.
In contrast, flexible political parties have vague programs and constitutions, maintaining great flexibility with election situations, often varying with election results and leaders' political views. Party discipline is loose, and there may not even be a member registration system.
Party organizations are unclear about the number and identity of their members, and entry and exit are free without vetting. Flexible political parties have great arbitrariness in their central and grassroots organizations, mostly active only during election periods, and usually only function as clubs and discussion groups. Central leaders are merely campaign managers for candidates, without substantive party leadership.
Charles neither wanted to completely control party members like a rigid political party, nor did he want to have no control over party members like a flexible political party.
In fact, what he most wanted to be was like those religious leaders, who usually don't meddle in affairs, but when there's a real problem, they can rally everyone with a single call, possessing absolute authority, like a godfather figure.