LAD/Blog #26: William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech

Bryan opened his speech by stating that he was fighting for a honorable cause, that of humanity, that his battle was not about people, but principles. He claimed that the issue being debated was perhaps the most hotly contested issue in American history, the issue over money in America. Bryan then went on to say that the government must also represent the pioneers at the heart of the country and not just the big businessmen on the East Coast. He stated that their fight was one in defense, not on the offensive. He speaks to defend families against "the encroachment of aggregated wealth". He supports the Democratically-introduced income tax law that was recently declared by the Supreme Court to be unconstitutional. Against common Democratic beliefs, he supports the governmental control of money and banking. Bryan's speech begins to gain more momentum as he starts talking about the issue over the gold standard or bimetallism. He describes the gold standard as extremely deadly for many Americans. He then describes how many gold standard supporters have fallen out of favor, like McKinley. He mentions that history is not in favor of the gold standard because no country has ever officially accepted it. He concludes: "Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."





William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech reminded me of Andrew Jackson's specie circular because both urged American currency to be based off of hard money, silver being a primary option.