LAD #24- William Jennings Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech

William Jennings Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech
July 9, 1896
Democratic National Convention

William Jennings Bryan began his speech by claiming to have come to speak in defense of the cause of humanity. Believing the country had undergone a great trial on March 4th, 1895 when Congress addressed the Democrats with the issue of money in the country, also asserting that those who supported the free coinage of silver in the Democratic Party had the right to take control of the party's policies. The Democrats in favor of the coinage of silver assembled together and were victorious from time to time, yet were hindered by those among them in the Democratic Party who did not support their ideas.

In his speech Bryan claimed that they did not come together as individuals at the time, but rather as representation for people equal under the law. He and those who supported similar ideals came to speak for the 'boarder class of businessmen' and not as aggressors, declaring themselves to be fighting in defense of their families and posterity and no longer willing to entreat or petition any longer.

The supporters of the silver's coinage deemed the income tax unconstitutional when it was brought to the Supreme Court and even when it was first passed. However, Bryan supported an income tax, and not those who would refuse to pay their dues.

While he and his followers fully backed the idea of silver being the primary form of currency, the United States government had worked to issue the gold standard in the country. William Jennings Bryan heavily supported the use of silver over gold due to the inflation it cause, which would also make it less difficult for the farmers to pay off their debts and to completely reverse the descent of the American economy at the time. At the time Bryan stood by the belief that they would be victorious. The large cities may have been in favor of a gold standard, yet the farms did not share the same ideal.

Bryan dared the government to meet them at a field and defend the gold standard, saying that they would fight with all of the support he had from those with commercial and laboring interests declaring that the government "shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."