Editing Cross of Gold speech (section)

=== Bryan seeks the nomination ===
{{for|additional detail on the political career of William Jennings Bryan before and during the 1896 campaign|William Jennings Bryan presidential campaign, 1896}}

Among those who spoke against the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act was [[Nebraska]] Representative [[William Jennings Bryan]]. Known as an orator even then ("the Boy Orator of the [[Platte River|Platte]]"), Bryan had not always favored free silver out of conviction, stating in 1892 that he was for it because the people of Nebraska were for it.{{sfn|Cherny|pp=52–53}} By 1893, his views on silver had evolved, and on the floor of the House of Representatives, he delivered a riveting three-hour address against repeal of the Silver Purchase Act.{{sfn|Kazin|pp=38–40}} In his conclusion, Bryan reached back in history:

{{quote|When a crisis like the present arose and the national bank of his day sought to control the politics of the nation, God raised up an Andrew Jackson, who had the courage to grapple with that great enemy, and by overthrowing it, he made himself the idol of the people and reinstated the Democratic party in public confidence. What will the decision be today? The Democratic party has won the greatest success in its history. Standing upon this victory-crowned summit, will it turn its face to the rising or the setting sun? Will it choose blessings or cursings—life or death—which? Which?{{sfn|Jones|p=68}}}}

Despite the repeal of the act, economic conditions failed to improve. The year 1894 saw considerable labor unrest. President Cleveland sent federal troops to [[Illinois]] to end the [[Pullman Strike]]—workers at the [[Pullman Palace Car Company]], which made railroad cars, had struck after wages were cut. Railway employees had refused to handle Pullman cars in sympathy with the strikers; this action threatened to paralyze the nation's rail lines. The President's move was opposed by the Democratic [[Governor of Illinois]], [[John Altgeld]]. Angered by Cleveland's actions in the labor dispute, and by his uncompromising stand against silver, Altgeld began to organize Democrats against Cleveland's renomination in 1896. Although Altgeld and his adherents urged voters to distinguish between Cleveland and his party, the Democrats lost 113 seats in the House in the 1894 [[midterm election]]s, the greatest loss by a majority party in congressional history. The Republicans gained control of the House, as well as the Senate, which until 1913 was elected by the state legislatures rather than by the popular vote.{{sfn|Williams|pp=41–45}}  Among those defeated for Senate was Bryan in Nebraska.{{sfn|Kazin|pp=41–43}}

Bryan had long planned to run for president. Although he would only be 36 years old in 1896—one year above the constitutional minimum—he believed the silver question could carry him not only to the nomination, but to the presidency.{{sfn|Kazin|pp=42–44}} He traveled widely, speaking to audiences across the nation. His speeches impressed many; even some of his opponents later conceded that Bryan was the most compelling speaker they had ever heard. Bryan's speeches evolved over time; in December 1894, in a speech in Congress, he first used a phrase from which would come the conclusion to his most famous address: as originally stated, it was "I will not help to crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."{{sfn|Williams|pp=67–71}}{{sfn|Kazin|pp=46–48}}

A myth has arisen that Bryan was an unknown prior to 1896. This was not the case; Bryan was well known as an orator on the tariff and silver questions. [[Albert Shaw (journalist)|Albert Shaw]], editor of ''The Review of Reviews'', stated that after Bryan's nomination, many easterners professed not to have heard of him but: "If, indeed, they had not heard of Mr. Bryan before, they had failed to follow closely the course of American politics in the past eight years. As a Democratic member of the Ways and Means Committee through two Congresses, Mr. Bryan was by all odds the ablest and strongest orator on the Democratic side of the House. His subsequent canvass [campaign] for the United States senatorship in Nebraska was noteworthy and conspicuous on many accounts."{{sfn|Barnes|p=380}}

In the aftermath of the 1894 election, the silver forces, led by Altgeld and others, began an attempt to take over the machinery of the Democratic Party. Historian Stanley Jones, in his study of the 1896 election, suggests that western Democrats would have opposed Cleveland even if the party had held its congressional majority in 1894; with the disastrous defeat, they believed the party would be wiped out in the West if it did not support silver.{{sfn|Jones|p=49}} Bryan biographer Paulo E. Coletta wrote, "during this year [July 1894 – June 1895] of calamities, disintegration and revolution, each crisis aided Bryan because it caused division within his party and permitted him to contest for its mastery as it slipped from Cleveland's fingers."{{sfn|Coletta|p=100}}

In early 1896, with the economy still poor, there was widespread discontent with the two existing major political parties. Some people, for the most part Democrats, joined the far-left [[People's Party (United States)|Populist Party]]. Many Republicans in the western states, dismayed by the strong allegiance of eastern Republicans to the gold standard, considered forming their own party. When the Republicans in June 1896 nominated former [[Ohio]] Governor [[William McKinley]] for president and passed at his request a platform strongly supporting "sound money" (the gold standard unless modified by international agreement), a number of "Silver Republicans" walked out of [[1896 Republican National Convention|the convention]].{{sfn|Kazin|p=52}} The leader of those who left was [[Colorado]] Senator [[Henry M. Teller]]; he was immediately spoken of as a possible candidate for the Democratic nomination.{{sfn|Williams|p=74}}

Bryan believed that he could, if nominated, unite the disaffected behind a strong silver campaign.{{sfn|Kazin|p=52}} However, part of his strategy was to remain inconspicuous until the last possible moment at the convention. He sent letters to national convention delegates, urging them to support silver, and enclosing copies of his photograph, writings, and speeches. Jones points out that though Bryan's speaking engagements were not deemed political by the standards of 1896, by modern measurements he was far more active in campaigning for the nomination than most of the better-known candidates.{{sfn|Jones|pp=184–185}}

Historian James A. Barnes, in his historical journal article pointing out myths that have arisen about Bryan's candidacy and campaign, stated that Bryan's efforts bore fruit even before the convention:

{{quote|By April, 1896, many individuals were quietly working for Bryan's nomination. Circulars were being distributed in Illinois, and admirers in Nebraska, North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and other states were urging his selection among their friends. It was not in any concerted or open action, however, that Bryan had his strength; it was in the friendly predisposition of the mass of the delegates that he had hopes.{{sfn|Barnes|p=381}}}}