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

     In 1896, William Jennings Bryan performed his "Cross of Gold" speech at the Democratic convention in Chicago.  In his speech, he incorporated various ideals of the populist party including bimetallism, the idea that the U.S. mint should coin silver and gold.  He opens his speech by emphasizing the current importance of this currency issue and states that the Democrats are here out of interest of sharing their stance with the common public.  He also makes clear that the democrats do not intend to be hostile towards the republicans, even though their stance on the issue is drastically different and has created, in essence, a political battle.  Bryan goes on to defend some attacks on bimetallism that have been made by the republican party, specifically that it would hurt business.  He states that the republicans are actually guilty of ruining business as farmers and factory laborers have suffered crushed enterprise due to the practices of the republican big business.  Bryan then defends the graduated income tax law, which the republicans claim is unconstitutional.  On the other hand, Bryan claims that contributions must be made by everyone in order for everyone to deserve the protection that the nation provides.  Bryan compares himself to Jefferson, because he also believes that money is a government aspect that should not be up to the banks to distribute or even print.  Finally, Bryan attacks the republicans constant contradictions of their own policies.  They claim that they support the gold standard, yet at the same time they are trying to replace it.  A suspicion aroused that they were merely trying to mimic Britain  which implements the gold standard in their nation, yet foreign pressure should not dictate American monetary decisions. This oration is extremely successful, allowing Bryan to combine populist and democratic standpoints.