The full text of William Jenning Bryan's famous "Cross of Gold" speech appears below. We do not come as individuals. [94], Bryan's nomination divided the party. The gentleman from New York says that he will propose an amendment providing that this change in our law shall not affect contracts which, according to the present laws, are made payable in gold. The President's move was opposed by the Democratic Governor of Illinois, John Altgeld. [74], With this call to action, Bryan abandoned any hint at compromise, and adopted the techniques of the radical, polarizing orator, finding no common ground between silver and gold forces. The use of symbols: -the suit -gas station -the 2 trucks iii. 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. President Cleveland sent federal troops to Illinois to end the Pullman strikeworkers at the Pullman Palace Car Company, which made railroad cars, had struck after wages were cut. 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 . [52] Although Tillman endorsed silver, his address was so laced with sectionalism that most silver delegates remained silent for fear of being seen as supporting him. (This inflationary measure would have increased the amount of money in circulation and aided cash-poor and debt-burdened farmers.) [79] He soon retired from the convention, returning to his hotel to await the outcome. I shall not slander the fair state of Massachusetts nor the state of New York by saying that when citizens are confronted with the proposition, Is this nation able to attend to its own business?I will not slander either one by saying that the people of those states will declare our helpless impotency as a nation to attend to our own business. Omissions? https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cross_of_Gold_speech&oldid=1138712489, United States National Recording Registry recordings, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using infobox event with unknown parameters, Pages using infobox event with blank parameters, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Bryan nominated for president by the Democrats, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 05:01. Shall we, their descendants, when we have grown to 70 million, declare that we are less independent than our forefathers? Both of these movements helped to create the People's Party, or the Populist Party, which officially established its party platform in Omaha, Nebraska, on July 4, 1892. Why this change? Nevertheless, large crowds gathered outside the public entrances; the galleries were quickly packed. He decried the gold standard, concluding the speech, "you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold". The year 1894 saw considerable labor unrest. [81] Bryan was urged by Senator Jones to allow it, but refused, stating that if his boom would not last overnight, it would never last until November. In January 1791, at the request of Congress, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton issued a report on the currency. I am in favor of an income tax. The silver would be struck into dollar coins to be circulated, or else stored and used as backing for silver certificates. Although Bryan had decided on a strategy to gain the nominationto give a speech which would make him the logical candidate in the eyes of delegateshe faced obstacles along the way. Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic. From the beginning of the speech, Bryan suggests that his cause is righteous and. Despite vocal opposition led by Tennessee Representative (and future president) Andrew Johnson, the precious metal content of smaller silver coins was reduced in 1853. [84][85] On the second ballot, Bryan still stood second, but had gained as other candidates had fallen away. One after another, state conventions to elect delegates to the national convention in Chicago repudiated an incumbent elected president of their party, who had not declared whether he would be a candidate for renomination. "Strictly confidential, not to be quoted for publication: I will be. Sources. Four years previously, the former Nebraska congressman had electrified Democratic delegates with his "Cross of Gold" speech, which defined the policy of "free silver" as a moral crusade and helped propel him to the party's presidential nomination . i. You come to us and tell us that the great cities are in favor of the gold standard. Never before in the history of American politics has a great issue been fought out as this issue has been by the voters themselves. Source: Official Proceedings of the Democratic National Convention Held in Chicago, Illinois, July 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, 1896, (Logansport, Indiana, 1896), 226234. [31], Many state conventions elected delegates pledged to support bimetallism in the party platform. Why, if they tell us that the gold standard is a good thing, we point to their platform and tell them that their platform pledges the party to get rid of a gold standard and substitute bimetallism. It is for these that we speak. Image No. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The cartoon charges Mister Bryan with disrespect for religion Bryan ended his. 1896 speech by U.S. politician William Jennings Bryan in support of a bimetallic standard, William Jennings Bryan being carried on the shoulders of delegates after giving the speech, Also attributed to an 1892 speech by President, For additional detail on the political career of William Jennings Bryan before and during the 1896 campaign, see, For a fuller explanation of the procedures of American political conventions, see, Possible recording of the original speech, Audio excerpt of the speech later recorded by William Jennings Bryan, William Jennings Bryan presidential campaign, 1896, United States presidential nominating convention, William Jennings Bryan presidential campaign, 1896 General election campaign, Official Proceedings of the 1896 Democratic National Convention. It demonstrated the need for better communications in wartime. [64] Throughout the speech, Bryan had the delegates in the palm of his hand; they cheered on cue. [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. Delegates called for better-known speakers, such as Altgeld or Bryan, but were granted neither then; the Illinois governor declined, and the Nebraskan, once seated, spent much of his time away from the convention floor at the platform committee meeting at the Palmer House. 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. Ah, my friends. Cross of Gold Speech - Analysis | Milestone Documents - Milestone Documents William Jennings Bryan: "Cross of Gold" Speech Log in to see the full document and commentary. Welcome to a series on William Jennings Bryan's famous 1896 Cross of Gold speech. The farmer who goes forth in the morning and toils all day, begins in the spring and toils all summer, and by the application of brain and muscle to the natural resources of this country creates wealth, is as much a businessman as the man who goes upon the Board of Trade and bets upon the price of grain. It is intended to spark pedagogical creativity by giving a sample approach to the material. With far less money than McKinley, Bryan embarked on a nationwide campaign tour by train on a then-unprecedented scale. BRYAN: CROSS OF GOLD. I shall object to bringing this question down to a level of persons. His speeches impressed many; even some of his opponents later conceded that Bryan was the most compelling speaker they had ever heard. [32], The 1896 Democratic convention opened at the Chicago Coliseum on July 7, 1896. Can you find the other strategies in his speech? Optional: They tell us that this platform was made to catch votes. In 1896 William Jennings Bryan gave possibly his most famous speech, " The Cross of Gold" Speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. 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. ; William Jennings Bryan was a leading member of the Democratic party who ran for President several times. Bryan also ran in the years 1900 and 1908 which became failures. [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. Mr. McKinley was the most popular man among the Republicans ; and everybody three months ago in the Republican Party prophesied his election. He cared about politics and his religion equally. [27] However, part of his strategy was to remain inconspicuous until the last possible moment at the convention. His subsequent canvass [campaign] for the United States senatorship in Nebraska was noteworthy and conspicuous on many accounts. Updates? Other copies or versions of these images might be available elsewhere. I ask him, if he will apply his logic to us, why he does not apply it to himself. He faced in the direction of the gold-dominated state delegations: There are two ideas of government. [13], The effects of the depression which began in 1893, and which continued through 1896, ruined many Americans. 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. Once the convention came to order, Arkansas Senator James K. Jones, chair of the Committee on Resolutions, read the proposed platform to cheers by many delegates; the reading of the pro-gold minority report attracted less applause. Both men had electoral problems: Bland at age 61 was seen by some as a man whose time had passed; Boies was a former Republican who had once decried bimetallism. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. In November he lost to the Republican candidate, William McKinley. One of the first candidates to appear widely on his own behalf, he was the original whistle-stop campaigner. However, Bryan, lacking a seat at the start of the convention, could not be elected temporary chairman. [57] Bryan then defended the right of silver supporters to make their argument against opposition from gold men, who were associated with financial interests, especially in the East. "[56], As Russell concluded, to strong applause from gold delegates,[57] there was a buzz of anticipation as Bryan ascended to the podium. My friend, in this land of the free you need fear no tyrant who will spring up from among the people. German-born political cartoonist Thomas Nast gave America some of its most enduring symbols: the Republican elephant, the Democratic donkey, and Uncle Sam. Some of the impoverished died of disease or starvation; others killed themselves.[15]. 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. [64] According to Bensel, the self-deprecation helped disarm the delegates. The 1896 Democratic National Convention followed events unique in post-Civil War American history. You shall not crucify mankind on a cross of gold. The speech so electrified the convention that the delegates nominated Bryan as their candidate for president, though he was only 36 years old and his experience as an officeholder was limited to two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country.[76]. Leave a comment. 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. [51], The debate on the platform opened at the start of the third day of the convention, July 9, 1896. Bryan's 1896 campaign was groundbreaking for more than his oratorical skill. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. bimetallism), which he believed would bring the nation prosperity. [1] Bryan's address helped catapult him to the Democratic Party's presidential nomination and is considered one of the greatest political speeches in American history. Bryan made a speech called "Cross of Gold", which had a strong reaction with the audience and included religious imagery. W.J. bimetallism), which he believed would bring the nation prosperity. My friends, we have made no criticism. American cartoon by Grant Hamilton, 1896, on William Jennings Bryan's 'Cross of Gold' speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which won Bryan the presidential nomination. His speech, delivered at the close of the debate on the party platform, electrified the convention and is generally credited with earning him the nomination for president. My God!"[70][71][73]. He says that mankind won't be crucified on a cross of gold. 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. What will the decision be today? The third ballot saw Bland still in the lead, but Bryan took the lead on the fourth ballot. This was close enough to the market value to make it uneconomic to export either US gold or silver coins. [1][78], Now, Bryan was ready to conclude the speech, and according to his biographer, Michael Kazin, step "into the headlines of American history". The 36-year old Bryan was an avowed bimetallist, placed himself in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson against moneyed interests and in favor of "hardy pioneers who braved all. The Populists would reach the high water mark of their political power in 1896, when the Democratic Party nominated William Jennings Bryan as its candidate for President of . The dissidents nominated their own ticket; the split in the vote would contribute to Bryan's defeat. 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. As a Democratic member of the Ways and Means Committee through two Congresses, Mr. Bryan was by all odds the ablest and strongest orator on the Democratic side of the House. The Cross of Gold was a speech given by William Jennings Bryan at the Democratic National Convention in 1896 which advocated for bimetallism, or the use of both gold and silver in funding the currency. Bryan, a former Democratic congressman from Nebraska, gained his party's presidential nomination in July of that year after electrifying the Democratic National Convention with his Cross of Gold speech. He favored the monetary policy . They called for the return to pre-1873 laws, which would require the Mint to take all the silver offered it and return it, struck into silver dollars. [82] The convention passed the platform in Bryan's absence and recessed. 7.5 x 4.75 in. [88] The St. Louis Post-Dispatch opined that with the speech, Bryan "just about immortalized himself". Out of all of the prominent business figures that arose during the Gilded Age, Andrew Carnegie is perhaps viewed in the most positive light. If the gold standard is a good thing, why try to get rid of it? 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. The majority of cartoons are from the 1908 campaigan, but there cartoons that feature 1920 election and Bryan's borther Charles Bryan. This legislation defined a unit of value for the new nation, to be known as a dollar. But in the early 20th century, the fame of Bryans Cross of Gold speech led him to repeat it numerous times on the Chautauqua lecture circuit where he was an enormously popular speaker. On the 4th of March, 1895, a few Democrats, most of them members of Congress, issued an address to the Democrats of the nation asserting that the money question was the paramount issue of the hour; asserting also the right of a majority of the Democratic Party to control the position of the party on this paramount issue; concluding with the request that all believers in free coinage of silver in the Democratic Party should organize and take charge of and control the policy of the Democratic Party. When you come before us and tell us that we shall disturb your business interests, we reply that you have disturbed our business interests by your action. [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. Although Hamilton understood that adjustment might be needed from time to time as precious metal prices fluctuated, he believed that if the nation's unit of value were defined only by one of the two precious metals used for coins, the other would descend to the status of mere merchandise, unusable as a store of value. [4] When silver prices rose relative to gold as a reaction to the California Gold Rush, silver coinage was worth more than face value, and rapidly flowed overseas for melting. [7], The Coinage Act of 1873 eliminated the standard silver dollar. His sympathetic comparison contrasted the hardworking farmer with the city businessman, whom Bryan cast as a gambler. "[67] Harpine suggested that, "by appealing in such an uncompromising way to the agrarian elements and to the West, Bryan neglected the national audience who would vote in the November election". The warmest ties of love and acquaintance and association have been disregarded. [35] Well aware of the overwhelming forces against them, many gold delegates were inclined to concede the platform battle. [19] Among those defeated for Senate was Bryan in Nebraska. I come to speak to you in defense of a cause as holy as the cause of libertythe cause of humanity. They have tried for thirty yearsthirty yearsto secure an international agreement, and those are waiting for it most patiently who dont want it at all. Forward-Looking Statements Except for historical information, this presentation may contain certain "forward-looking statements". [96] Bryan spoke on silver throughout the campaign; he rarely addressed other issues. A third attempt in early 1878 again passed the House, and eventually both houses after being amended in the Senate. . UPTO 50% OFF ON ALL PRODUCTS. The money went for speakers, pamphlets, and other means of conveying their "sound money" campaign to the voter. He cared about politics and his religion equally. Standing upon this victory-crowned summit, will it turn its face to the rising or the setting sun? [49][50], Delegates, as they waited for the committees to complete their work, spent much of the first two days listening to various orators. 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. [1], Bryan later described the silence as "really painful" and momentarily thought he had failed. BRYAN: CROSS OF GOLD. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. Russell's address was inaudible to most of the Coliseum; he was ill and died just over a week later. [99], Bryan's speech is considered one of the most powerful political addresses in American history. 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. 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 Akron Journal and Republican, no friend to Bryan, opined that "never probably has a national convention been swayed or influenced by a single speech as was the national Democratic convention". The government pledged to stand behind the silver dollars and treasury notes issued under the act by redeeming them in gold. Although Altgeld and his adherents urged voters to distinguish between Cleveland and his party, the Democrats lost 113 seats in the House in the 1894 midterm elections, the greatest loss by a majority party in congressional history. Political cartoons historically and currently play a significant role in public discourse about serious and important issues. An 1896 cartoon of William Jennings Bryan supporting "Free Silver." What exactly did he mean that money did not need to be "backed" by gold? 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? For these images we dont claim any copyright or other intellectual property rights and neither do our contributors, we just provide you with access to a high resolution copy to use in line with the terms of the license you buy. [Note on the recording: In 1896 recording technology was in its infancy, and recording a political convention would have been impossible. 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. [100] Stanley Jones, however, suggested that even if Bryan had never delivered it, he would still have been nominated. There is more reason for him to do that than for us to expect to fail to maintain the parity. The platform would symbolize the repudiation of Cleveland and his policies after the insurgents' long struggle, and Bryan was determined to close the debate on the platform. Reprinted in The Annals of America, Vol. Delegates threw hats, coats, and handkerchiefs into the air. The Republican Party made policies that supported big business. William Jennings Bryan. "[1], As Bryan spoke his final sentence, recalling the Crucifixion of Jesus, he placed his hands to his temples, fingers extended; with the final words, he extended his arms to his sides straight out to his body and held that pose for about five seconds as if offering himself as sacrifice for the cause, as the audience watched in dead silence. He always regarded it as the best point he made during the speech, and only the ending caused more reaction from his listeners: We say to you that you have made the definition of a business man too limited in its application. "[67] By then, as he spoke in a sincere tone, his voice sounded clearly and loudly through the hall. [71] The police in the convention hall, not sharing the enthusiasm for silver, were described by the press (some of whose members were caught up in the frenzy) as standing as if they thought the audience was about to turn on them. "[91] Bryan's words gave rise to later economic and political philosophies, including Huey Long's 1930s Share Our Wealth program, with its trigger phrase, "Every Man a King" inspired by Bryan's speech. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Subscribe 84K views 7 years ago This is a speech from Democratic Candidate William Jennings Bryan, which he originally delivered in 1896. It showed American support for european economic interests in East Africa. But destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country. Trained as a lawyer, Bryan represented the state of Nebraska in the United States Congress, 1891-95. . If the gold standard is the standard of civilization, why, my friends, should we not have it? The sympathies of the Democratic Party, as described by the platform, are on the side of the struggling masses, who have ever been the foundation of the Democratic Party. The policemen were swept away by the flood of delegates, who raised Bryan to their shoulders and carried him around the floor. Bryan continued with language evoking the Civil War, telling his audience that "in this contest brother has been arrayed against brother, father against son. 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. [63] Two alert police officers had joined Bryan as he left the podium, anticipating the crush. is not the change evident to anyone who will look at the matter? [5] It was not until 1834 that Congress acted, changing the gold/silver ratio to 16.002:1. According to Barnes: The people of the South and the West had for years been convinced of the enormity of the "crime of 1873", and they had long since come to regard silver as the sword that would cut the Gordian knot of privilege. I want to suggest this truth, that if the gold standard is a good thing we ought to declare in favor of its retention and not in favor of abandoning it; and if the gold standard is a bad thing, why should we wait until some other nations are willing to help us to let it go? I deny it. Instructors: CLICK HERE to request a free trial account (only available to college instructors) Primary Source Readers But we stand here representing people who are the equals before the law of the largest cities in the state of Massachusetts. The gold standard, which the United States had effectively been on since 1873, limited the money supply but eased trade with other nations, such as the United Kingdom, whose currency was also based on gold. 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. Now, my friends, let me come to the great paramount issue. The task of relieving the jobless fell to churches and other charities, as well as to labor unions. This teaching guide helps instructors use a specific primary source set, Patronage and Populism: The Politics of the Gilded Age, in the classroom. 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. [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. We say in our platform that we believe that the right to coin money and issue money is a function of government. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I tell you that the great cities rest upon these broad and fertile prairies. They can find where the holders of fixed investments have. At the. The audio portion is an excerpt. It was clear to listeners as he worked his way through the comparisons that he would refer to the farmer, and when he did, the hall exploded with sound. Hear William Jennings Bryan deliver his Cross of Gold speech at the Democratic National Convention, William Jennings Bryan: presidential campaign poster, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/event/Cross-of-Gold-speech, The Library of Congress - "Cross of Gold" Speech, Public Broadcasting Service - Cross of Gold Speech. Bryan begins. Advocates of the gold standard attributed the decline to advances in production and transportation. [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. [68] He denied, however that the contest was personal; he bore no ill-will towards those who supported the gold standard. Bryan made a speech called "Cross of Gold", which had a strong reaction with the audience and included religious imagery. ( July 8, 1896 ), classic of American political oratory delivered by William Jennings Bryan ( Bryan, William Jennings) in closing the debate on the party platform at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1896. Many Republicans in the western states, dismayed by the strong allegiance of eastern Republicans to the gold standard, considered forming their own party. 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. Afrocentrists, Evangelicals, Hebrew-Israelites and the False Revolution. 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