bryan's cross of gold political cartoon analysis

I come to speak to you in defense of a cause as holy as the cause of libertythe cause of humanity. Congress did so, but the debates showed bitter divides in both major parties between silver and gold factions. You come to us and tell us that the great cities are in favor of the gold standard. South Carolina Senator Benjamin Tillman was to be the other pro-silver speaker, and originally wished to close the debate. (Wikipedia). Image No. [93] The Republican nominee was slow to realize the surge of support for Bryan after the nomination, stating his view that the silver sentiment would be gone in a month. Our war is not a war of conquest. But if he means to say that we cannot change our monetary system without protecting those who have loaned money before the change was made, I want to ask him where, in law or in morals, he can find authority for not protecting the debtors when the act of 1873 was passed when he now insists that we must protect the creditor. The BlandAllison Act was vetoed by President Rutherford B. Hayes, but was enacted by Congress over his veto on February 28, 1878. Instructors: CLICK HERE to request a free trial account (only available to college instructors) Primary Source Readers [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. [65] Bryan then recounted the history of the silver movement; the audience, which had loudly demonstrated its approval of his opening statements, quieted. . Our website may have some collections that include images that are in the public domain, not protected by copyright or where the copyright ownership is unknown. 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. 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. Much activity took place in advance of the formal opening as the silver and (vastly outnumbered) gold forces prepared their strategies. 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. Contemporary estimates were an unemployment rate as high as 25%. "Strictly confidential, not to be quoted for publication: I will be. [87] The pro-silver Cleveland Plain Dealer called Bryan's speech "an eloquent, stirring, and manly appeal". Why doesnt he tell us what he is going to do if they fail to secure an international agreement. The policemen were swept away by the flood of delegates, who raised Bryan to their shoulders and carried him around the floor. But destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country. Will it choose blessings or cursingslife or deathwhich? William Jennings Bryan. [87] The Chicago Tribune reported that Bryan had lit the spark "which touched off the trail of gun-powder". I shall object to bringing this question down to a level of persons. 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. We believe it is a part of sovereignty and can no more with safety be delegated to private individuals than can the power to make penal statutes or levy laws for taxation. He would subsequently win the Democratic nomination for president in 1900 and again . 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. Vilas gave a lengthy defense of the Cleveland administration's policies, so long that Russell, fearing that Vilas' speech would cut into his time, asked that the time given to the gold proponents be extended by ten minutes. However, Bryan, lacking a seat at the start of the convention, could not be elected temporary chairman. [6] Silver was now undervalued at the Mint; accordingly little was presented for striking into money. [63], I would be presumptuous, indeed, to present myself against the distinguished gentlemen to whom you have listened if this were a mere measuring of abilities; but this is not a contest between persons. 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. Mr. Carlisle said in 1878 that this was a struggle between the idle holders of idle capital and the struggling masses who produce the wealth and pay the taxes of the country; and my friends, it is simply a question that we shall decide upon which side shall the Democratic Party fight. After speeches on the subject by several U.S. [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. Sources. The third ballot saw Bland still in the lead, but Bryan took the lead on the fourth ballot. Ah, my friends. That is the question which the party must answer first, and then it must be answered by each individual hereafter. Ah. It's a very famous speech and it was powerfully delivered, and was so . Subscribe 84K views 7 years ago This is a speech from Democratic Candidate William Jennings Bryan, which he originally delivered in 1896. 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. He also proposed the establishment of a mint, at which citizens could present gold or silver, and receive it back, struck into money. 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. W.J. The Democratic Party wanted to create more upward mobility for people. We demand the free and unlimited coinage of both silver and gold at the present legal ratio of 16 to 1 without waiting for the aid or consent of any other nation. [35] Well aware of the overwhelming forces against them, many gold delegates were inclined to concede the platform battle. One of the first candidates to appear widely on his own behalf, he was the original whistle-stop campaigner. [41], One of the leaders of the silver movement was Illinois Governor Altgeld; a native of Germany, he was constitutionally barred from the presidency by his foreign birth. Analysis Of William Bryan'S The Cross Of Gold Speech: [Essay Example], 692 words GradesFixer. In passing the Coinage Act, Congress eliminated bimetallism. The gold men, though they possessed the machinery of the party, had neither the power nor the strength to challenge their opponents. 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. Bryan's 1896 campaign was groundbreaking for more than his oratorical skill. We reply to them that changing conditions make new issues; that the principles upon which rest Democracy are as everlasting as the hills; but that they must be applied to new conditions as they arise. Never before in the history of American politics has a great issue been fought out as this issue has been by the voters themselves. They can find where the holders of fixed investments have. "[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". As Bryan was not deemed a major contender for the nomination, even delegates committed to a candidate could cheer him without seeming to betray their allegiance. One Indiana voter wrote, "God has sent you amongst our people to save the poor from starvation, and we no [sic] you will save us. Why is it that within three months such a change has come over the sentiments of the country? The Republican Party platform for the election, formulated at its convention in St. Louis in June, declared, We are unalterably opposed to every measure calculated to debase our currency. When the Democrats gathered a few weeks later, their platform called for the free and unlimited coinage of both silver and gold. In an eloquent plea for the coinage of silver and an attack on the thesis that gold was the only sound backing for currency, Bryan closed with the peroration, you shall not press down on the brow of labor this crown of thorns. My friends, we have made no criticism. Bryan begins. [32], The 1896 Democratic convention opened at the Chicago Coliseum on July 7, 1896. The issue was whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. . There were a large number of potential candidates seen as having less support; these included Vice President Adlai Stevenson of Illinois, Senator Joseph C. Blackburn of Kentucky, Senator Teller, and Bryan.[43]. When I find a man who is not willing to pay his share of the burden of the government which protects him, I find a man who is unworthy to enjoy the blessings of a government like ours. Question 9 30 seconds Q. If they say bimetallism is good but we cannot have it till some nation helps us, we reply that, instead of having a gold standard because England has, we shall restore bimetallism, and then let England have bimetallism because the United States have. There are two ideas of government. The audio portion is an excerpt. 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. [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. Upon the side of the idle holders of idle capital, or upon the side of the struggling masses? 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. Bryan, who remained at his hotel, sent word to the Nebraska delegation to make no deals on his behalf. It revealed that the U.S. had become a world power. [103][104], Writer Edgar Lee Masters called the speech, "the beginning of a changed America. The Democratic party has won the greatest success in its history. He then lowered them, descended from the podium, and began to head back to his seat as the stillness held. But note the change. 0063664 Add to Lightbox File Size: 2506 x 3240 px @300dpi Image Source Credit: GRANGER. Conclusion: -main message of Latuff's cartoon process . 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. The Republican Party made policies that supported big business. [82] The convention passed the platform in Bryan's absence and recessed. [18], Despite the repeal of the act, economic conditions failed to improve. ; William Jennings Bryan was a leading member of the Democratic party who ran for President several times. 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. 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. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Both men spoke to hundreds of thousands of people from their chosen venues. Hamilton proposed a monetary system based on bimetallism, in which the new currency would be equal to a given amount of gold, or a larger amount of silver; at the time a given weight of gold was worth about 15 times as much as the same amount of silver. 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. W.J. Nevertheless, Senator John W. Daniel of Virginia was by an overwhelming vote elected temporary chairman, and a Committee on Credentials was appointed that seated Bryan and his contesting Nebraska delegation.[47]. Bryan also ran in the years 1900 and 1908 which became failures. Although the recording does not capture the power and drama of the original address, it does allow us to hear Bryan delivering this famous speech.]. If you will read what Thomas Benton said, you will find that he said that in searching history he could find but one parallel to Andrew Jackson. All rights reserved. The money went for speakers, pamphlets, and other means of conveying their "sound money" campaign to the voter. Bryan's "Cross of Gold" Speech: Mesmerizing the Masses 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. Pursuant to this promise, government gold reserves dwindled over the following three years. [68] He denied, however that the contest was personal; he bore no ill-will towards those who supported the gold standard. [75] The lengthy passage as he discussed the platform and the Republicans helped calm the audience, ensuring he would be heard as he reached his peroration. Even so, in 1900, Congress passed the Gold Standard Act, formally placing the United States on that standard. [46] However, Barnes deemed the actions by the committee immaterial to the outcome due to the silver strength in the convention: Anyone who doubts the power the silverites were ready to unleash in a disciplined and irresistible attack needs only to read the results of the election of temporary chairman. I had never had such an opportunity before in my life and never expect to have again. 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". German-born political cartoonist Thomas Nast gave America some of its most enduring symbols: the Republican elephant, the Democratic donkey, and Uncle Sam. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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 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. [11], In 1890, the Sherman Silver Purchase Act greatly increased government purchases of silver. Grant Hamilton cartoon for Judge Magazine on William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech, Democratic National Convention, Chicago, July 9, 1896. Many Americans, however, believed that bimetallism (making both gold and silver legal tender) was necessary for the nation's economic health. This statement attracted great cheering, and Bryan turned to rhetorically demolish the compromise position on bimetallismthat it should only be accomplished through international agreement: It is the issue of 1776 over again. He cared about politics and his religion equally. [84][85] On the second ballot, Bryan still stood second, but had gained as other candidates had fallen away. Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic. 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. The response, wrote one reporter, came like one great burst of artillery. Men and women screamed and waved their hats and canes. This legislation defined a unit of value for the new nation, to be known as a dollar. Angered by Cleveland's actions in the labor dispute, and by his uncompromising stand against silver, Altgeld began to organize Democrats against Cleveland's renomination in 1896. He was defeated in the general election by the Republican candidate, former Ohio governor William McKinley . Students will be engaged by analyzing this speech, a political cartoon, and being able to critically think . Mr. 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. 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]. Circulars were being distributed in Illinois, and admirers in Nebraska, North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and other states were urging his selection among their friends. 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. The dissidents nominated their own ticket; the split in the vote would contribute to Bryan's defeat. Our silver Democrats went forth from victory unto victory, until they are assembled now, not to discuss, not to debate, but to enter up the judgment rendered by the plain people of this country. Because upon the paramount issue in this campaign there is not a spot of ground upon which the enemy will dare to challenge battle. When the Republicans in June 1896 nominated former Ohio Governor William McKinley for president and passed at his request a platform strongly supporting "sound money" (the gold standard unless modified by international agreement), a number of "Silver Republicans" walked out of the convention. At the. In January 1791, at the request of Congress, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton issued a report on the currency. Bryan is arguing against the gold standard and so he isn't apt to paint gold in those idyllic terms. 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. If they ask us why we did not embody all these things in our platform which we believe, we reply to them that when we have restored the money of the Constitution, all other necessary reforms will be possible, and that until that is done there is no reform that can be accomplished. 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Have again Bryan had lit the spark `` which touched off the trail of ''. To put the burdens of government justly upon the backs of the people for speakers pamphlets... They possessed the machinery of the people why doesnt he tell us that the contest was ;. Was vetoed by President Rutherford B. Hayes, but Bryan took the lead on fourth! His behalf made to follow citation style rules, there may be discrepancies. Critically think, William McKinley former Ohio governor William McKinley three years: GRANGER on July 7,.. Why is it that within three months such a change has come over the sentiments of the convention, not... Challenge battle the sentiments of the formal opening as the cause of libertythe of. Began to head back to his seat as the cause of libertythe cause of libertythe cause of humanity beginning a! Dealer called Bryan 's speech `` an eloquent, stirring, and manly appeal '' Bland still in the would.
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