LAD #24: Cross of Gold

LAD #24: Cross of Gold

Bryan opened his speech by stating that he 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. Next, Bryan evoked Jackson, stating how he and his faction of the Democratic Party were against large accumulation of wealth, and how he supported the income tax. He defended the tax by stating that men should be willing to pay their fair share for a government that protects them. Bryan then transitions again to the right of the government to coin money, stating that it should be the responsibility of the government, not the banks. At this point, 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 then says that history is not in favor of the gold standard because no country has ever officially accepted in. According to him, if it was so great, then it would already be in use and there would be no plan to make an international agreement to move to bimetallism. He then begins to wrap up his speech, stating that America relies on the masses, that without the farms, the cities would not survive. He describes a resurgence of independence and how America should pave the way for England, not the other way around. He states that he is willing to fight against the gold standard on whatever grounds. Finally, he finishes by evoking Christian imagery with the description of crucifixion on a gold cross.

This reminded me of Andrew Jackson's specie circular policy, in which the use of hard money was enforced, as opposed to the soft money being issued from wildcat banks. This is similar because Jackson was returning to a stable form of currency, like the people that supported the gold standard, who opposed Bryan.