The legislation also established the Mint of the United States. "[60] Bensel noted, "The pump was more than primed, it was ready to explode. Some of the impoverished died of disease or starvation; others killed themselves.[15]. . Bryan had been a dark horse candidate with little support in the convention. Some, wrote another reporter, like demented things, divested themselves of their coats and flung them high in the air. The next day the convention nominated Bryan for President on the fifth ballot. 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? I ask him, if he will apply his logic to us, why he does not apply it to himself. Our silver Democrats went forth from victory unto victory, until they are assembled now, not to discuss, not to debate, but to enter up the judgment rendered by the plain people of this country. The majority of cartoons are from the 1908 campaigan, but there cartoons that feature 1920 election and Bryan's borther Charles Bryan. The income tax was not unconstitutional when it was passed. Unfortunately, no recordings exist of his original speech. His dramatic speaking style and rhetoric roused the crowd to a frenzy. The sympathies of the Democratic Party, as shown by the platform, are on the side of the struggling masses, who have ever been the foundation of the Democratic Party.[77]. They complain about the plank which declares against the life tenure in office. [40], The only gold man who put together any sort of campaign for the Democratic nomination was Treasury Secretary John G. Carlisle, but he withdrew in April, stating that he was more concerned about the platform of the party than who would lead it. 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. Never before in the history of this country has there been witnessed such a contest as that through which we have just passed. This was close enough to the market value to make it uneconomic to export either US gold or silver coins. But in this contest, brother has been arrayed against brother, and father against son. Can you find the other strategies in his speech? He says that he wants this country to try to secure an international agreement. Therefore, we care not upon what lines the battle is fought. It is for these that we speak. [17] In his conclusion, Bryan reached back in history: When a crisis like the present arose and the national bank of his day sought to control the politics of the nation, God raised up an Andrew Jackson, who had the courage to grapple with that great enemy, and by overthrowing it, he made himself the idol of the people and reinstated the Democratic party in public confidence. With a two-thirds vote of the delegates needed to nominate, almost every silver delegate would have to vote for the same candidate to assure success, though any organized support from gold delegates would greatly damage a silver candidate's chances. The issue was whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. The dissidents nominated their own ticket; the split in the vote would contribute to Bryan's defeat. A third attempt in early 1878 again passed the House, and eventually both houses after being amended in the Senate. "[89] The New York Times disparaged Bryan as "the gifted blatherskite from Nebraska". The humblest citizen in all the land when clad in the armor of a righteous cause is stronger than all the whole hosts of error that they can bring. My God! The 1896 Democratic National Convention followed events unique in post-Civil War American history. He was known for his deeply held religious beliefs and his popular touch, which earned him the moniker "the Great Commoner." According to William Jennings Byran:. However, he stated, facing towards the gold delegates, "when you come before us and tell us that we are about to disturb your business interests, we reply that you have disturbed our business interests by your course. Many Americans, however, believed that bimetallism (making both gold and silver legal tender) was necessary for the nation's economic health. Source 1 Political Cartoon "Swallowed" from Puck Magazine Source 2 Cross of Gold Political Cartoon Source 3 Photograph of a sod house Source 4 Political Cartoon, "The Grange . This speech, delivered at the Democratic National Convention, helped win the Bryan, former Representative to Congress for Nebraska, the presidential nomination of the Democratic party. "[69] The gold men, during the address, paid close attention and showed their appreciation for Bryan's oratory. [Note on the recording: In 1896 recording technology was in its infancy, and recording a political convention would have been impossible. Jones deemed the Democrats likely to nominate a candidate who would appeal to the Populist Party, and Bryan had been elected to Congress with Populist support. At the time, Bryan was a former member of Congress from Nebraska who had been working tirelessly to build support for his candidacy. We come to speak for this broader class of businessmen. We come to speak of this broader class of business men. It simply intends to put the burdens of government justly upon the backs of the people. "Strictly confidential, not to be quoted for publication: I will be. These were the only two candidates to put together organizations to try to secure delegate votes, though both efforts were cash-starved. [93] The Republican nominee was slow to realize the surge of support for Bryan after the nomination, stating his view that the silver sentiment would be gone in a month. 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. [87] The Chicago Tribune reported that Bryan had lit the spark "which touched off the trail of gun-powder". Congress did so, but the debates showed bitter divides in both major parties between silver and gold factions. If the gold standard is a good thing, why try to get rid of it? [54], Senator David B. Hill of New York, a gold supporter, was next. [8] During the economic chaos of the Panic of 1873, the price of silver dropped significantly, but the Mint would accept none for striking into legal tender. The year 1894 saw considerable labor unrest. In his address, Bryan supported "free silver" (i.e. 2023 The Granger Collection LTD d/b/a GRANGER - Historical Picture Archive. [51], The debate on the platform opened at the start of the third day of the convention, July 9, 1896. 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. The third ballot saw Bland still in the lead, but Bryan took the lead on the fourth ballot. Although Bryan ran again on a silver platform in the 1900 presidential election, the issue failed to produce the same resonance with the voters. The audio portion is an excerpt. [90] The only paper to predict, after Bryan gave his speech, that he would not be nominated was The Wall Street Journal, which stated, "Bryan has had his day". BRYAN CARRIES ON THE SHOULDERS OF HIS ADMIRERS AFTER HIS ORATION. [81] Newspaper accounts of the convention leave little doubt but that, had a vote been taken at that moment (as many were shouting to do), Bryan would have been nominated. [106] Historian R. Hal Williams suggested that the opposite philosophy, of legislation for the masses leading to prosperity for all, advocated by Bryan in his speech, informed the domestic policies of later Democratic presidents, including Franklin Roosevelt with his New Deal.[107]. William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" oration was primarily an expression of his (A) fundamentalist religious beliefs (B) neutral stance toward the belligerents of the First World War (C) advocacy of free and unlimited coinage of silver (D) opposition to teaching the theory of evolution in public schools (E) anti-imperialist convictions Mr. McKinley was nominated at St. Louis upon a platform which declared for the maintenance of the gold standard until it can be changed into bimetallism by international agreement. Conditions have arisen and we are attempting to meet those conditions. Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. In later years Bryan delivered numerous variations on the speech, some captured on early phonograph recordings. [59] According to political scientist Richard F. Bensel in his study of the 1896 Democratic convention, "Although the silver men knew they would win this fight, they nonetheless needed someone to tell themand the gold menwhy they must enshrine silver at the heart of the platform. The Cross of Gold speechwas delivered by William Jennings Bryan, a former United States Representativefrom Nebraska, at the Democratic National Conventionin Chicagoon July 9, 1896. When the Republicans in June 1896 nominated former Ohio Governor William McKinley for president and passed at his request a platform strongly supporting "sound money" (the gold standard unless modified by international agreement), a number of "Silver Republicans" walked out of the convention. The government pledged to stand behind the silver dollars and treasury notes issued under the act by redeeming them in gold. The bill, as modified by amendments sponsored by Iowa Senator William B. Allison, did not reverse the 1873 provisions, but required the Treasury to purchase a minimum of $2 million of silver bullion per month; the profit, or seignorage from monetizing the silver was to be used to purchase more silver bullion. [20], Bryan had long planned to run for president. Bryan consented, on condition that his own time was extended by the same amount; this was agreed to. 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. Those who are opposed to this proposition tell us that the issue of paper money is a function of the bank and that the government ought to go out of the banking business. He then defended the remainder of the platform, though only speaking in general terms. In the late 1800's a populist movement was happening and people were starting to take notice. Our war is not a war of conquest. He would subsequently win the Democratic nomination for president in 1900 and again . Updates? I deny it. 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. Many Republicans in the western states, dismayed by the strong allegiance of eastern Republicans to the gold standard, considered forming their own party. [42] Going into the convention, the two leading candidates for the nomination were former Congressman Bland, who had originated the Bland-Allison Act, and former Iowa Governor Horace Boies, with Bland considered the frontrunner. The financial Panic of 1893 intensified the debates, and when President Grover Cleveland (a Democrat) continued to support the gold standard against the will of much of his party, activists became determined to take over the Democratic Party organization and nominate a silver-supporting candidate in 1896. It is the issue of 1776 over again. We believe it. If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we will fight them to the uttermost. He mocked McKinley, said by some to resemble Napoleon, noting that he was nominated on the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. We believe it is a part of sovereignty and can no more with safety be delegated to private individuals than can the power to make penal statutes or levy laws for taxation. 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. That is the question that the party must answer first; and then it must be answered by each individual hereafter. 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. The policemen were swept away by the flood of delegates, who raised Bryan to their shoulders and carried him around the floor. One farmer in the gallery had been about to leave rather than listen to Bryan, whom he deemed a Populist; he had been persuaded to stay. He did for Rome what Jackson did when he destroyed the bank conspiracy and saved America. The issue was whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. If they ask us here why it is we say more on the money question than we say upon the tariff question, I reply that if protection has slain its thousands the gold standard has slain its tens of thousands. If you want criticisms, read the dissenting opinions of the Court. . Thus has the contest been waged, and we have assembled here under as binding and solemn instructions as were ever fastened upon the representatives of a people. Shall we, their descendants, when we have grown to 70 million, declare that we are less independent than our forefathers? More than that, we can tell them this, that they will search the pages of history in vain to find a single instance in which the common people of any land ever declared themselves in favor of a gold standard. He sent letters to national convention delegates, urging them to support silver, and enclosing copies of his photograph, writings, and speeches. The silver would be struck into dollar coins to be circulated, or else stored and used as backing for silver certificates. BRYAN: CROSS OF GOLD. Image No. That will give you criticisms. It was not in any concerted or open action, however, that Bryan had his strength; it was in the friendly predisposition of the mass of the delegates that he had hopes.[30]. How is it today? One of the first candidates to appear widely on his own behalf, he was the original whistle-stop campaigner. 7.5 x 4.75 in. Gold Democrats looked to the President for leadership, but Cleveland, trusting few in his party, did not involve himself further in the gold efforts, but spent the week of the convention fishing off the New Jersey coast. Why, as individuals we might have been glad to compliment the gentleman from New York [Senator Hill], but we knew that the people for whom we speak would never be willing to put him in a position where he could thwart the will of the Democratic Party. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). I am in favor of an income tax. This was not the case; Bryan was well known as an orator on the tariff and silver questions. Nevertheless, large crowds gathered outside the public entrances; the galleries were quickly packed. So if they come to meet us on that, we can present the history of our nation. His opponent, William Jennings Bryan (who Littlefield suggested was represented by the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz) was famous for his "Cross of Gold" speech. [75] The lengthy passage as he discussed the platform and the Republicans helped calm the audience, ensuring he would be heard as he reached his peroration. Standing upon this victory-crowned summit, will it turn its face to the rising or the setting sun? Born Mark Elliot Zuckerberg May 14, 1984 (age 38) White Plains, New York, U.S. Education: Harvard University (dropped out) Occupations: Internet entrepreneur, philanthropist. Known as an orator even then, Bryan had not always favored free silver out of conviction, stating in 1892 that he was for it because the people of Nebraska were for it. The image that is selected for the analysis is from the pre-1856 epoch of US history, and it represents the imagination of the political and social life as it was imagined by artists. Pamphlet. 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