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

 
LAD/Blog #26: William Jennings Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” Speech
This speech took place on July 9th, 1896. It references the question of whether the free coinage of silver should be endorsed at a ratio of silver to gold of 16:1. He begins by saying he is defending a cause “as holy as the cause of liberty,” and that being part of an election should be about humanitarian principles. He says that the Democrats have brought up the money question, and responds by asking people to consider the whole nation when contemplating this idea- policies must be adjusted based on the times. He says that he wants to represent everyone collectively, not as individuals. He says that they are standing for businessmen/laborers, and are trying to do what is right. He is aware the federal government controls money, but believes a gold standard concentrates power in the hands of the wealthy. Overall, he supports bimetallism, which he believed would help the nation grow.
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William Jennings Bryan


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Richard Nixon (synthesis):
Nixon canceled the conversion of US dollar to gold in a set of economic measures that became known as the "Nixon Shock" in 1971. This was against the gold standard, just as Bryan was in his "Cross of Gold" speech.

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