LAD #24

Summary of William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" Speech

William Jennings Bryan spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in July of 1896. He spoke about several ideas from the Populist Party perspective, especially on bimetallism (the idea that the country should coin both silver and gold). He discussed the value of the currency but stressed that the Democrats did not want to be hostile to the Republicans despite their ideas on bimetallism being very different. He believed that the coinage of silver would benefit the suffering economy that was caused by Republican big business. His goals were not to start a fight but instead to open a discussion to fix the problems. Income tax was another thing he believed in. He thought that the nation needed someone (the government) to help distribute the wealth to the people and that banks shouldn't have this power. He is aware of the fact that many people support the gold standard but explains that their wealth comes from the poor who depend upon the coinage of silver. Bryan brings up the fact that the Republicans are supposedly in support of the gold standard but are also trying to replace it, which is contradictory. This was possibly an attempt to copy Britain, which also shouldn't be done because foreign pressures shouldn't control American economic decisions. His speech, with both Populist and Democratic views, excited the people. They cheered and celebrated with his final lines,“you shall not press down on the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind on a cross of gold.”