Cross of Gold speech (1896)
The "Cross of Gold" speech, delivered by William Jennings Bryan at the 1896 Democratic National Convention, is a pivotal moment in American political history. In this address, Bryan argued for the abandonment of the gold standard in favor of free silver coinage, which he believed would alleviate the financial struggles faced by farmers and laborers. His eloquent speech combined logical reasoning, patriotic themes, and biblical references to persuade his audience, while invoking the legacy of Democratic icons like Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson.
Bryan's rhetoric resonated with the agrarian and working-class sentiments of the time, particularly as he praised the values of the American West and criticized the interests of Eastern bankers. The speech concluded with the famous declaration that labor should not be "crucified upon a cross of gold," a phrase that has since become emblematic of his campaign. This powerful oration not only propelled Bryan into the national spotlight but also solidified the Democratic Party's commitment to bimetallism, influencing the broader national discourse on monetary policy. Although Bryan would unsuccessfully run for the presidency three times, he remained a significant figure in American politics until his death in 1925, with a legacy that reflects both his oratorical skill and the populist movements of his era.
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Cross of Gold speech (1896)
The Event Speech delivered by William Jennings Bryan at the Democratic National Convention, advocating that the federal government adopt a free silver policy
Date July 9, 1896
Place Chicago, Illinois
Attacking the gold monetary standard in favor of bimetallism, Bryan defended Western farmers and the “common man” against banks and the wealth of the Eastern United States.
U.S. representative William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska spoke at the Democratic National Convention of 1896, contending that the gold standard should be abandoned in favor of free silver coinage. This change, he believed, would ease the burden of American farmers and debt-ridden laborers. In a carefully prepared speech incorporating balanced phrases and biblical allusions, Bryan appealed to logic, American history, patriotism, and populism. An accomplished orator, he invoked the names of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, Democratic Party saints, in support of his “righteous cause.”
Speaking directly to the romantic pastoral sentiments of his audience, Bryan praised the pioneers of the American West, who lived close to nature, unlike city dwellers and Eastern bankers. In monetary policy, he asserted that Americans should be leaders in bimetallism rather than abject followers of Great Britain and other nations. Bryan brought his address to a rousing conclusion, with a statement that would always thereafter be associated with him: “You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”
The speech catapulted Bryan, a thirty-six-year-old congressman, into national prominence. After hearing it, the party chose him as its presidential candidate in 1896. It thereby committed itself to incorporating bimetallism as a key plank in its platform, shaping the national debate on the gold standard.
Bryan would run for the presidency unsuccessfully three times and serve as Woodrow Wilson’s first secretary of state. He remained a national figure until his death in 1925. His later defense of religious fundamentalism and his participation in the Scopes trial at the end of his life, when his powers were diminished, tarnished his reputation. However, with his resonant voice, impeccable diction, and ability to turn a memorable phrase, he is remembered as both “the American Cicero” and “the Great Commoner.”
Bibliography
Kazin, Michael. A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan. New York: Knopf, 2006.
Leinward, Gerald. William Jennings Bryan: An Uncertain Trumpet. Lanham, Md.: Rowman and Littlefield, 2006.
Springen, Donald K. William Jennings Bryan: Orator of Small-Town America. New York: Greenwood Press, 1991.