William Jennings Bryan: “Cross of Gold” Speech

( 1896 ) Commentary by Lewis L. Gould, University of Texas at Austin

“The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error.” - Paragraph 1
“We beg no longer; we entreat no more; we petition no more. We defy them.” - Paragraph 7
“You come to us and tell us that the great cities are in favor of the gold standard; we reply that the great cities rest upon our broad and fertile prairies. Burn down your cities and leave our farms and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country.” - Paragraph 19
“You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.” - Paragraph 20

A cartoon from 1896 portraying William Jennings Bryan as an anarchist threat to religion (Library of Congress)

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