Youngstown, OH Speech 2, 1896-10-20

Speech by William Jennings Bryan.

Speech by William Jennings Bryan
Tuesday, October 20, 1896
Opera House, Youngstown, OH

Source: FINISHES WITH OHIO, Candidate Bryan Completes His Tour of the Home State of His Opponent., Omaha World-Herald (Morning Edition), Wednesday, October 21, 1896; The Evening News, Wednesday, October 21, 1896

"Nothing has stirred my indignation more in this campaign than that the money changers send money to the churches and missionaries begging them to stand by the gold standard and help them to perpetuate a system of financial bondage.

...I fully realize the responsibilities of the great office for which I am candidate, and I realize the work that lies before one who goes into that office with the determination to bring the government to its old foundation, which instead of making laws to give some an advantage over the rest of the people, simply seeks to secure equal rights to all and confer special advantages to no one. I very fully realize the difficult work that lies before one who goes into that office with that determination, and I have been gratified beyond measure to find the deep interest of the people have taken and I feel sure of this, that if, by the suffrage of my countrymen, I am to enjoy the highest honors within the gift of men to confer, I shall have behind me the earnest, aye, I may say, the prayerial hearts of those who still believe that this nation should still be what our fathers intended it to be, a light to the nations of the world."