@Prince of SeraphsTrains and blimps are crucial elements to steampunk. Mix it up with some clockwork too to get a whole spectrum of quasi-techy goodness. If it's not action oriented, might I suggest that the political climate being not too dissimilar to the American Gold Rush? Plenty of reason to show off big steamy machines that way, without bloodshed too. Of course you need migrant workers who completely differ from the native population in not just geographical origins, but also appearance and language too. Normally I would suggest trying to portray the plights of Chinese miners in California, but I don't give a shit about the Chinese. Instead do a complete 360: The goldmines are owned by oriental overlords who have "Accepted" down-on-their luck quasi Angelo-Saxon people to do the hard work for them, including both mining and administrating said mines. Of course you can't be too racists, so throw in a exotic asian lady to wants to make things better for the foreigners, but doesn't have the slightest idea of how to do it until you're main character, one of said foreigners, romances her and acts as the spokesperson and leader of a potential worker uprising.
It's a very understated fact, but many steampunk communities tend to have rather communist political ideals. Run the story like the Russians; the proletariat are being ruled over by the bourgeoisie, who in turn make sure that the aristocracy is blind to the plights of the proletariat. Thus your main character should lead the uprising of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie, using his love interest who is among the aristocracy to put pressure on both sides of the bourgeoisie. Of course it's not going to be that easy, as you'll have plenty of enemies who will physically, verbally, and emotionally harm your main character, from simply sending thugs to accost him and his friends to revealing the "affair" your dood is having with the upper-class oriental lady, causing all sorts of controversy that threatens her standing among the upper crust.
As for how Sapphire fits into all of this, I dunno, make her a lesbian or something. Then you can twist it into a sort of feminist/pro-homosexual fic and people won't notice your white washing. It'll make millions I tell you, MILLIONS!
