This was not the case; Bryan was well known as an orator on the tariff and silver questions. The income tax is a just law. You come to us and tell us that the great cities are in favor of the gold standard; we reply that the great cities rest upon our broad and fertile prairies. However, the senator wanted 50 minutes to speak, too long for a closing address, and at Bryan's request agreed to open the debate instead. He had already begun work on a speech. time before some commentator alludes to William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech at the 1896 Democratic convention as the leading example of an orator's ability to sway listeners. Let me call attention to two or three great things. On the fifth ballot, the Illinois delegation, led by Governor Altgeld, switched its votes from Bland to Bryan. These statements may involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity and performance to be materially different from the expectations and projections of Globex. Sources. Pamphlet. The galleries were filled with white as spectators waved handkerchiefs, and it was several minutes before he could continue. 2023 The Granger Collection LTD d/b/a GRANGER - Historical Picture Archive. [6] Silver was now undervalued at the Mint; accordingly little was presented for striking into money. Many in the public saw the bonds as benefiting bankers, not the nation. If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we shall fight them to the uttermost, having behind us the producing masses of the nation and the world. [20], Bryan had long planned to run for president. Standing upon this victory-crowned summit, will it turn its face to the rising or the setting sun? We come to speak of this broader class of business men. Accordingly, Bryan became the final speaker on the platform. The full text of William Jenning Bryans famous Cross of Gold speech appears below. The man who is employed for wages is as much a business man as his employer; the attorney in a country town is as much a business man as the corporation counsel in a great metropolis; the merchant at the cross-roads store is as much a business man as the merchant of New York; the farmer who goes forth in the morning and toils all day, who begins in spring and toils all summer, and who by the application of brain and muscle to the natural resources of the country creates wealth, is as much a business man as the man who goes upon the Board of Trade and bets upon the price of grain; the miners who go down a thousand feet into the earth, or climb two thousand feet upon the cliffs, and bring forth from their hiding places the precious metals to be poured into the channels of trade are as much business men as the few financial magnates who, in a back room, corner the money of the world. Cross of Gold title of speech William Jennings Bryan gave Cross of Gold speech at Democratic National Covention Nebraska congressman seeking presidential nomination Democratic National Convention To whom did Bryan gives his Cross of Gold Speech in Chicago? The new unit of currency was defined to be equal to 24.75 grains (1.604g) of gold, or alternatively, 371.25 grains (24.057g) of silver, establishing a ratio of value between gold and silver of 15:1. "And I needed it for the speech I was to make." He sent letters to national convention delegates, urging them to support silver, and enclosing copies of his photograph, writings, and speeches. The "Cross Of Gold" speech was a speech by William which helped propel the convention to nominate him as a Democratic presidential candidate. He does use the word gold in a religious allusion, but it's given quite a different meaning. [102] Bryan's emphasis on agrarian issues, both in his speech and in his candidacy, may have helped cement voting patterns which kept the Democrats largely out of power until the 1930s. Bryan consented, on condition that his own time was extended by the same amount; this was agreed to. If they say bimetallism is good but we cannot have it till some nation helps us, we reply that, instead of having a gold standard because England has, we shall restore bimetallism, and then let England have bimetallism because the United States have. I deny it. Afrocentrists, Evangelicals, Hebrew-Israelites and the False Revolution. Russell's address was inaudible to most of the Coliseum; he was ill and died just over a week later. If the gold standard is a good thing, why try to get rid of it? He decried the gold standard, concluding the speech, "you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold". But note the change. The only gold man who put together any sort of campaign for the Democratic nomination was Treasury Secretary One of the leaders of the silver movement was Illinois Governor Altgeld; a native of Germany, he was constitutionally barred from the presidency by his foreign birth. In later years Bryan delivered numerous variations on the speech, some captured on early phonograph recordings. Many Republicans in the western states, dismayed by the strong allegiance of eastern Republicans to the gold standard, considered forming their own party. The Democratic idea has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous their prosperity will find its way up and through every class that rests upon it. [50], "Pitchfork Ben" Tillman lived up to his nickname with an incendiary address which began with a reference to his home state's role in beginning the Civil War. My friends, we shall declare that this nation is able to legislate for its own people on every question without waiting for the aid or consent of any other nation on earth, and upon that issue we expect to carry every single state in the Union. "[69] The gold men, during the address, paid close attention and showed their appreciation for Bryan's oratory. It offers discussion questions, classroom activities, and primary source analysis tools. The silver would be struck into dollar coins to be circulated, or else stored and used as backing for silver certificates. Mark Zuckerberg - Zuckerberg in April 2019. TABLE 7 Comparative Analysis of Two Theoretical Explanations of Personality . [54], Senator David B. Hill of New York, a gold supporter, was next. Historian Stanley Jones, in his study of the 1896 election, suggests that western Democrats would have opposed Cleveland even if the party had held its congressional majority in 1894; with the disastrous defeat, they believed the party would be wiped out in the West if it did not support silver. Critics contended that the inflation which would follow the introduction of such a policy would harm workers, whose wages would not rise as fast as prices would, and the operation of Gresham's law would drive gold from circulation, effectively placing the United States on a silver standard. He cared about politics and his religion equally. However, as late as June, the gold forces, which still controlled the Democratic National Committee (DNC), continued to believe that the nominee could be pro-gold. It also repealed the statutory provisions allowing silver bullion to be presented to the Mint and returned in the form of circulating money. If the gold standard, and I might call your attention to the fact that some of the very people who are in this convention today and who tell you that we ought to declare in favor of international bimetallism and thereby declare that the gold standard is wrong and that the principles of bimetallism are betterthese very people four months ago were open and avowed advocates of the gold standard and telling us that we could not legislate two metals together even with all the world. According to Jones, it was clear that Bland could not win, and that Bryan could not be stopped. Our war is not a war of conquest. Cleveland issued a statement urging Democratic voters to support goldthe next convention to be held, in Illinois, unanimously supported silver; the keynote speaker prayed for divine forgiveness for Cleveland's 1892 nomination. Political Cartoon featuring William Jennings Bryan carrying the "Cross of Gold . More than a century after Bryan delivered that speech, his words still have power, and some of his metaphors still appear in political speeches and platforms. Bryan, having established the right of silver supporters to petition, explained why that petition was not to be denied: It is for these that we speak. The gentleman who just preceded me [Governor Russell] spoke of the old state of Massachusetts. Handout 4: Cross of Gold Speech, one copy for each student Handout 4: Cross of Gold SpeechTeacher Answer Key Handout 5: Assessment, one copy for each student Five signs on large sheets of paper or cardstock with one of the following written on each: Inflation, Deflation, Gold Notes, Silver Notes, and Greenbacks. [6], 8, [4] pages, wraps. [1], Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests, and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: "You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. With the powerful words he used, Bryan showed his support to the Populists. [103][104], Writer Edgar Lee Masters called the speech, "the beginning of a changed America. We demand the free and unlimited coinage of both silver and gold at the present legal ratio of 16 to 1 without waiting for the aid or consent of any other nation. [100] Stanley Jones, however, suggested that even if Bryan had never delivered it, he would still have been nominated. 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[98], After McKinley's inauguration in March 1897, increases in gold availability from new discoveries and improved refining methods led to a considerable increase in the money supply. [Note on the recording: In 1896 recording technology was in its infancy, and recording a political convention would have been impossible. Grant Hamilton cartoon for Judge Magazine on William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech, Democratic National Convention, Chicago, July 9, 1896. The Democratic idea, however, has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous, their prosperity will find its way up through every class which rests upon them. [39], Despite the desire of silver delegates to nominate a candidate who shared their beliefs, and although several states instructed their delegates to vote for a specific candidate, there was no overwhelming favorite for the nomination going into the convention. His sympathetic comparison contrasted the hardworking farmer with the city businessman, whom Bryan cast as a gambler. The silver campaign of 1896 was a big controversy among the people. [51], The debate on the platform opened at the start of the third day of the convention, July 9, 1896. Historian James A. Barnes, in his historical journal article pointing out myths that have arisen about Bryan's candidacy and campaign, stated that Bryan's efforts bore fruit even before the convention: By April, 1896, many individuals were quietly working for Bryan's nomination. McKinley won more easily than in 1896, making inroads in the silver West. [91] He received many letters from supporters, expressing their faith in him in stark terms. No, my friends, it will never be the judgment of this people. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. We do not come as aggressors. We come to speak for this broader class of businessmen. William Jennings Bryan and the Cross of Gold Speech - US 101 - YouTube In 1896, former Nebraska Congressman William Jennings Bryan became the Democratic nominee for President by delivering. Updates? Forward-Looking Statements Except for historical information, this presentation may contain certain "forward-looking statements". Railway employees had refused to handle Pullman cars in sympathy with the strikers; this action threatened to paralyze the nation's rail lines. In passing the Coinage Act, Congress eliminated bimetallism. That is the question which the party must answer first, and then it must be answered by each individual hereafter. South Carolina Senator Benjamin Tillman was to be the other pro-silver speaker, and originally wished to close the debate. However, he lost the general election to William McKinley, and the United States formally adopted the gold standard in 1900. [87] The pro-silver Cleveland Plain Dealer called Bryan's speech "an eloquent, stirring, and manly appeal". [87] The Chicago Tribune reported that Bryan had lit the spark "which touched off the trail of gun-powder". "[92], When McKinley heard that Bryan was likely to be the nominee, he called the report "rot" and hung up the phone. Therefore, we care not upon what lines the battle is fought. But in this contest, brother has been arrayed against brother, and father against son. We have petitioned, and our petitions have been scorned; we have entreated, and our entreaties have been disregarded; we have begged, and they have mocked when our calamity came. The warmest ties of love and acquaintance and association have been disregarded. As Hill moved to the podium, a reporter friend passed Bryan a note urging him to make a patriotic speech without hint of sectionalism; Bryan responded, "You will not be disappointed. [25] Bryan biographer Paulo E. Coletta wrote, "during this year [July 1894 June 1895] of calamities, disintegration and revolution, each crisis aided Bryan because it caused division within his party and permitted him to contest for its mastery as it slipped from Cleveland's fingers. Bryan did not think it was necessary for the United States to hold in reserve an amount of gold equal in value to all the paper money in circulation. There was loud cheering as Bryan stood there, waiting for his audience to calm. Speakers in some states cursed Cleveland; the South Carolina convention denounced him. Nevertheless, he won the nomination without the votes of the gold delegates, most of whom either left the convention or refused to vote. [44] Bryan had been waiting outside the committee room when his rivals were seated by a 2723 vote; contemporary accounts state he was "somewhat surprised" at the result. "[56], Vilas quickly lost his audience, which did not want to hear Cleveland defended. It is true. Our ancestors, when but three millions in number, had the courage to declare their political independence of every other nation; shall we, their descendants, when we have grown to seventy millions, declare that we are less independent than our forefathers? "[60] Bensel noted, "The pump was more than primed, it was ready to explode. Cleveland friend and former Postmaster General Donald M. Dickinson wrote to the President in June 1896 hoping that the delegates would recognize "common sense" and be frightened at the thought of nominating a radical. We demand that the standard silver dollar shall be a full legal tender, equally with gold, for all debts, public and private, and we favor such legislation as will prevent for the future the demonitization of any kind of legal tender by private contract. The individual is but an atom; he is born, he acts, he dies; but principles are eternal; and this has been a contest of principle. Bryan's "Cross of Gold" Speech: Mesmerizing the Masses The most famous speech in American political history was delivered by William Jennings Bryan on July 9, 1896, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. ; William Jennings Bryan was a leading member of the Democratic party who ran for President several times. Some people, for the most part Democrats, joined the far-left Populist Party. The Republican Party platform for the election, formulated at its convention in St. Louis in June, declared, We are unalterably opposed to every measure calculated to debase our currency. When the Democrats gathered a few weeks later, their platform called for the free and unlimited coinage of both silver and gold. In an eloquent plea for the coinage of silver and an attack on the thesis that gold was the only sound backing for currency, Bryan closed with the peroration, you shall not press down on the brow of labor this crown of thorns. There are those who believe that, if you will only legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, their prosperity will leak through on those below. Document Analysis: "Cross of Gold" In 1896, three years after the "Panic of 1893", a man by the name of William Jennings Bryan delivered one of the most historical speeches to this day. These cartoons are grouped by the general sentiment they represent about William Jennings Bryan, his political campaigns, and his ambitions. [101] According to rhetorical historian William Harpine in his study of the rhetoric of the 1896 campaign, "Bryan's speech cast a net for the true believers, but only for the true believers. Behind the scenes and the irony: -fueling of the trucks uncaring of the president iv. Governmental response to this shortage was hampered by the fact that officials did not clearly understand what had happened. [88] The St. Louis Post-Dispatch opined that with the speech, Bryan "just about immortalized himself". [63], I would be presumptuous, indeed, to present myself against the distinguished gentlemen to whom you have listened if this were a mere measuring of abilities; but this is not a contest between persons.
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