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
"Finally, will I look to you, all of you, to author a new spirit in Coruscant, in the Core, throughout the star systems where the light of democracy continues to shine, so that we can look forward to another thousand years of peace, and another thousand beyond that, and so on, until war itself is stamped from our just domain."

- Palpatine

Appearances

 * Labyrinth of Evil