LAD #24 Cross of Gold Speech

William Jennings Bryan gave his "Cross of Gold" speech on July 9th, 1896 at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to convince people to support the free coinage of silver at a ration of 16 to 1. The Democratic party supported bimetallism, but many, especially businessmen, did not favor bimetallism. The rich did not want to support bimetallism because they believed it would harm their business and because Britain does not practice bimetallism. However, Bryan states that if the United States were to change to bimetallism, Britain would change or be forced to change as well. Bryan compares the decision between gold and silver to the rich and the "struggling masses". He says that if one were to burn the cities, they cities would rise again, but if a farm was burned then suffering would ensue on the masses. With the support of laborers and commercial interest they will fight and say "you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."