State of the Republic address (19 BBY)

"Lest my statements convey an impression that the hardest decisions are behind us, let me hasten to add that much work remains to be done. So much rebuilding; so much reordering&hellip;To you, all of you, will I look for guidance in determining which worlds we should welcome back into the Republic's embrace, and which, if any, should be kept at arm's length, or shunned for the injuries they have heaped upon us. Similarly will I look to you for guidance in reshaping our Constitution to conform to the needs of the new epoch."

- Supreme Chancellor Palpatine

In 19 BBY, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine issued his State of the Republic address before a special session of the Galactic Senate of the Republic. The address occurred in the third year of the pan-galactic Clone Wars between the Republic and the separatist Confederacy of Independent Systems, and thus focused heavily on the progress of the conflict and the Chancellor's vision for future warfare between the two belligerents. Palpatine outlined in his speech his reasons for continuing the war despite growing opposition from Loyalist senators, giving particular emphasis to the Outer Rim Sieges and the dangers posed by Confederate holdouts in the targeted regions. Despite this, the Supreme Chancellor made an effort to reassure the people of the Republic that there was clear reason for optimism in the war, as the Separatist Droid Army had been driven out of many Republic territories.

The Chancellor's address met with great praise from many of his colleagues in the Senate, a majority of whom supported a continuation of the war. Among the minority opposed to Palpatine's policies stood the Jedi High Council and members of Alderaanian Senator Bail Organa's anti-war coalition. In the aftermath of the address, the Republic's capital world of Coruscant came under attack by the Confederate General Grievous, who attempted to capitalize on the timing of the speech in order to strike at the planet when a large number of Republic dignitaries would be present. The address was the final of its kind, as it was given only days prior to the demise of the Republic and the rise of the Galactic Empire.

Historical context
"Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that the war is far from won, and I, for one, am not entirely satisfied that traitors and terrorists are not a continued threat to public safety. Oh, I realized that our victories give all appearances of a quick resolution to the war, but as of this morning I was informed that the Separatists still hold many key worlds in the Outer Rim, and that our sieges there could go on indefinitely."

- Chancellor Palpatine, in a private meeting with the Loyalist Committee

Following the Separatist Crisis of 24 BBY to 22 BBY, the Galaxy became engulfed in the brutal and far-reaching Clone Wars. The struggle between the dominant Galactic Republic and the breakaway Confederacy of Independent Systems carried on for three years, and witnessed a number of shifts in the balance of power throughout countless battles across thousands of worlds. By around the fifth month of 19 BBY, the Republic was enjoying relative security, particularly in its Core Worlds. The Confederacy had largely been driven from the Core and the surrounding galactic regions, allowing for the Grand Army of the Republic to initiate the Outer Rim Sieges at the behest of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the leader of the democracy.

Summary
"And so it is with a heavy heart that I commit two hundred thousand additional troopers to the Outer Rim sieges, though in full confidence that the end of this brutal conflict is now in sight. Cast from the Core, expelled from the Inner Rim and Colonies, driven from the Mid Rim, and soon to be exiled in the spiral arms, the Confederacy will pay a dear price for what they have brought down upon our fair house."

- Chancellor Palpatine, in his address to the Republic populace

Reception
"I just wanted all of you to know that, despite what the HoloNet news might lead you to believe, not all of us were on our feet."

- Senator Bail Organa

Appearances

 * Labyrinth of Evil