The President's move was opposed by the Democratic Governor of Illinois, John Altgeld. [25] Bryan biographer Paulo E. Coletta wrote, "during this year [July 1894 June 1895] of calamities, disintegration and revolution, each crisis aided Bryan because it caused division within his party and permitted him to contest for its mastery as it slipped from Cleveland's fingers. This exhibit features cartoons from Jay N. "Ding" Darling, Homer C . free coinage of silver at silver-gold ratio of 16 to 1 issue in Bryan's Cross of Gold speech 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 . Bryan, who remained at his hotel, sent word to the Nebraska delegation to make no deals on his behalf. The Democratic idea, however, has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous, their prosperity will find its way up through every class which rests upon them. [97] Although McKinley outpolled him by 600,000votes, Bryan received more votes than any previous presidential candidate. 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. Lafayette, CA: d press, 1995. No, my friends, it will never be the judgment of this people. Accordingly, Bryan became the final speaker on the platform. . It is the issue of 1776 over again. "[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. "[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". 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. The Republican Party made policies that supported big business. A. Not only that, but as he listens he can hear with ever increasing distinctness the sound of the waves as they beat upon the lonely shores of St. Helena. [19] Among those defeated for Senate was Bryan in Nebraska. [20], Bryan had long planned to run for president. I deny it. [54], Senator David B. Hill of New York, a gold supporter, was next. It is for these that we speak. Of these, only Senator Blackburn, a silver supporter, sparked much reaction, and that only momentary. In November he lost to the Republican candidate, William McKinley. [98] The Democratic candidate failed to gain a majority of the labor vote; McKinley won in working-class areas as well as wealthy precincts. The full text of William Jenning Bryan's famous "Cross of Gold" speech appears below. The bankers did not want loans repaid in an inflated currencythe gold standard was deflationary, and as creditors, they preferred to be paid in such a currency, whereas debtors preferred to repay in inflated currency. 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. Our war is not a war of conquest. I had never had such an opportunity before in my life and never expect to have again. When this debate is concluded, a motion will be made to lay upon the table the resolution offered in commendation of the administration and also the resolution in condemnation of the administration. It made no secret of these preparations. The session was supposed to begin at 10:00a.m., but as delegates, slowed by the long commute from the hotels to the Coliseum and fatigue from the first two days, did not arrive on time, proceedings did not begin until 10:45. Will it choose blessings or cursingslife or deathwhich? [105] Author and political commentator William Safire, in his political dictionary, traced the term "trickle-down economics" (common in the Reagan era) to Bryan's statement that some believe that government should legislate for the wealthy, and allow prosperity to "leak through" on those below. Delegates threw hats, coats, and handkerchiefs into the air. Now, my friends, let me come to the great paramount issue. The government pledged to stand behind the silver dollars and treasury notes issued under the act by redeeming them in gold. 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. 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. Many Republicans in the western states, dismayed by the strong allegiance of eastern Republicans to the gold standard, considered forming their own party. 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. The galleries were filled with white as spectators waved handkerchiefs, and it was several minutes before he could continue. They manufactured that leader in the convention, a fabrication in which Bryan was only too happy to assist.[108]. [64] Throughout the speech, Bryan had the delegates in the palm of his hand; they cheered on cue. Gold Democrats were successful in a few states in the Northeast, but had little luck elsewhere. I tell you that the great cities rest upon these broad and fertile prairies. Standing upon this victory-crowned summit, will it turn its face to the rising or the setting sun? They can find where the holders of fixed investments have. This teaching guide helps instructors use a specific primary source set, Patronage and Populism: The Politics of the Gilded Age, in the classroom. [54] He was followed by two other gold men, Senator William Vilas of Wisconsin and former Massachusetts Governor William E. Russell. [34], The Bimetallic Committee carefully planned to take control of every aspect of the convention, eliminating any threat that the minority gold faction could take power. 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. [72] When Bryan resumed, his comparison of miner with miser again electrified the audience; the uproar prevented him from continuing for several minutes. The gold men, though they possessed the machinery of the party, had neither the power nor the strength to challenge their opponents. [5] It was not until 1834 that Congress acted, changing the gold/silver ratio to 16.002:1. This paper presents a formal analysis of political cartoons using methods from classical semiotics, semiotic morphisms, and in particular the study of blends. Trained as a lawyer, Bryan represented the state of Nebraska in the United States Congress, 1891-95. "[92] A farmer in Iowa, in a letter to Bryan, stated, "You are the first big man that i [sic] ever wrote to. The 1896 Democratic National Convention followed events unique in post-Civil War American history. They could only beg them to spare the party the humiliation of broken traditions and the overthrowing of established control. The Democratic Party wanted to create more upward mobility for people. At Bryan's words, he threw his hat into the air, slapped the empty seat in front of him with his coat, and shouted, "My God! 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. "[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. doubt, because there is scarcely a State here today asking for the gold standard which is not in the absolute control of the Republican party. At the. Let me call attention to two or three great things. If they say bimetallism is good, but that we cannot have it until other nations help us, we reply that, instead of having a gold standard because England has, we will restore bimetallism, and then let England have bimetallism because the United States has it. [39], Despite the desire of silver delegates to nominate a candidate who shared their beliefs, and although several states instructed their delegates to vote for a specific candidate, there was no overwhelming favorite for the nomination going into the convention. Political cartoons historically and currently play a significant role in public discourse about serious and important issues. Bound in semi-stiff boards covered in dark green washi paper, wit Bryan also ran in the years 1900 and 1908 which became failures. People who were free-silver thought that currency reform would end them. [1][78], Now, Bryan was ready to conclude the speech, and according to his biographer, Michael Kazin, step "into the headlines of American history". "[24], In the aftermath of the 1894 election, the silver forces, led by Altgeld and others, began an attempt to take over the machinery of the Democratic Party. When McKinley and his advisers, such as industrialist and future senator Mark Hanna, realized that the views were more than transitory, they began intensive fundraising from corporations and the wealthy. BRYAN CARRIES ON THE SHOULDERS OF HIS ADMIRERS AFTER HIS ORATION. 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. 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. William Jennings Bryan, gifted orator and three-time presidential candidate was born on March 19, 1860, in Salem, Illinois. 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. Cross of Gold speech, classic of American political oratory delivered on July 8, 1896, by William Jennings Bryan in closing the debate on the party platform at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago during the campaign for the presidential election of 1896. His subsequent canvass [campaign] for the United States senatorship in Nebraska was noteworthy and conspicuous on many accounts. All rights reserved. [90], The Pullman Company offered Bryan a private car for his trip home; he declined, not wishing to accept corporate favors. [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. [83], The balloting began the following morning, July 10, with a two-thirds vote necessary to nominate. 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. 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. In his "Cross of Gold" speech, Bryan argued that the debate over monetary policy was part of a broader struggle for democracy, political independence and the welfare of the "common man." Bryan's speech was met with rapturous applause and a celebration on the floor of the convention that lasted for over half an hour. Leave a comment. 12, 18951904: Populism, Imperialism, and Reform (Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 1968), 100105. 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. Among those who spoke against the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act was Nebraska Representative William Jennings Bryan. The cartoon depicts two contradictory sides of Carnegie: the business titan and the philanthropist. [6] Silver was now undervalued at the Mint; accordingly little was presented for striking into money. [94], Bryan's nomination divided the party. Consciousness of grievances of years and not of months was reflected in the decisive action of the state Democratic conventions in the spring and early summer of 1896. Nevertheless, large crowds gathered outside the public entrances; the galleries were quickly packed. Pro-silver forces, with congressional leaders such as Missouri Representative Richard P. Bland, sought the passage of bills to allow depositors of silver bullion to receive it back in the form of coin. 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. 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. Despite vocal opposition led by Tennessee Representative (and future president) Andrew Johnson, the precious metal content of smaller silver coins was reduced in 1853. [7], The Coinage Act of 1873 eliminated the standard silver dollar. ; B. The merchant at the crossroads store is as much a businessman as the merchant of New York. 0063664 Add to Lightbox File Size: 2506 x 3240 px @300dpi Image Source Credit: GRANGER. Upon the side of the idle holders of idle capital, or upon the side of the struggling masses? [12] Although the economic Panic of 1893 had a number of causes, President Grover Cleveland believed the inflation caused by Sherman's act to be a major factor, and called a special session of Congress to repeal it. 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. It is true. Much activity took place in advance of the formal opening as the silver and (vastly outnumbered) gold forces prepared their strategies. Pamphlet. Why, that man who used to boast that he looked like Napoleon, that man shudders today when he thinks that he was nominated on the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. The individual is but an atom; he is born, he acts, he dies; but principles are eternal, and this has been a contest over a principle. The thirty-six-year-old former Congressman from Nebraska aspired to be the Democratic nominee for president, and he had been skillfully, but quietly, building support for himself among the delegates. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. . Bryan did not think it was necessary for the United States to hold in reserve an amount of gold equal in value to all the paper money in circulation. [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. "[80], It took about 25minutes to restore order, and according to Bensel, "somewhere in the mass demonstration that was convulsing the convention hall, the transfer of sentiment from silver as a policy to Bryan as a presidential candidate took place". 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. Silver advocates argued that this dropoff, which caused the price of grain to fall below its cost of production, was caused by the failure of the government to adequately increase the money supply, which had remained steady on a per capita basis. [100] Stanley Jones, however, suggested that even if Bryan had never delivered it, he would still have been nominated. These were the only two candidates to put together organizations to try to secure delegate votes, though both efforts were cash-starved. 2023 The Granger Collection LTD d/b/a GRANGER - Historical Picture Archive. The Democratic idea has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous their prosperity will find its way up and through every class that rests upon it. Old leaders have been cast aside when they refused to give expression to the sentiments of those whom they would lead, and new leaders have sprung up to give direction to this cause of freedom. Jones points out that though Bryan's speaking engagements were not deemed political by the standards of 1896, by modern measurements he was far more active in campaigning for the nomination than most of the better-known candidates.[29]. In 1921 (25 years after the original speech), he recorded portions of the speech for Gennett Records in Richmond, Indiana. We beg no longer; we entreat no more; we petition no more. [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". [95] However, Bryan did gain the support of the Populists, as well as a convention of Silver Republicans. William Jennings Bryan. Sources. [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. There are those who believe that, if you will only legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, their prosperity will leak through on those below. [79] He soon retired from the convention, returning to his hotel to await the outcome. Therefore, we care not upon what lines the battle is fought. 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