July 9, 1896- Democratic National July 9, 1896- Democratic National ConventionConvention

ChicagoChicago

36 years old, 36 years old, aspiring to be nominee for aspiring to be nominee for President President

Dramatic speaking style and rhetoric roused Dramatic speaking style and rhetoric roused the crowd into a frenzy.the crowd into a frenzy.

Was eventually nominated on the 5Was eventually nominated on the 5thth ballotballot

16 to 1(bimetallism) - Why?16 to 1(bimetallism) - Why?

Prejudices?Prejudices?

2 ideas of government?2 ideas of government?

““You come to us and tell us that the great cities You come to us and tell us that the great cities are in favor of the gold standard. I tell you that are in favor of the gold standard. I tell you that

the great cities rest upon these broad and the great cities rest upon these broad and fertile prairies. Burn down your cities and leave fertile prairies. Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic. But destroy our farms and the as if by magic. But destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in grass will grow in the streets of every city in

the country. “the country. “

If they say bimetallism is good but we If they say bimetallism is good but we cannot have it till some nation helps us, cannot have it till some nation helps us, we reply that, instead of having a gold we reply that, instead of having a gold

standard because England has, we shall standard because England has, we shall restore bimetallism, and then let restore bimetallism, and then let

England have bimetallism because the England have bimetallism because the United States have.United States have.

Having behind us the commercial Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by their demands for a gold standard by

saying to them, you shall not press down saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind thorns. You shall not crucify mankind

upon a cross of gold.upon a cross of gold.