Crestline, OH Speech 1, 1896-08-10

Speech by William Jennings Bryan.

Speech by William Jennings Bryan
Monday, August 10, 1896 at 10:30am
Depot, Crestline, OH

Source: Gage County Democrat, Friday, August 14, 1896; MR. BRYAN AVERTS A PANIC, Coolness of the Democratic Leader Prevents a Disaster at Delphos, Ohio., Omaha World-Herald (Morning Edition), Tuesday, August 11, 1896

"Ladies and Gentlemen: I would not be surprised to find such an audience as this in Nebraska, but I can hardly realize that such a gathering as this is assembled in the state which has the honor to contain the residence of my opponent. (Laughter and great cheering.) I must conclude from the enthusiasm which has been manifested ever since we crossed the state line into Ohio that Ohio has had so many Presidents that you have decided that you can spare one now. (Laughter and cheers.) It is generous of you, and I will promise you that if I am living when Nebraska has had as many Presidents as Ohio has, I will come back to your state and return the compliment by helping you to elect an Ohio man, provided he is in favor of a financial policy by the American people, for the American people. (Loud cheering.) Unless I mistake the character of the people among whom we live, you will never be able to get them to support a candidate for the presidency who will continue the policy of mortgaging the American people to foreign syndicates when 70,000,000 of people stand ready to protect the treasury of the United States." (Loud cheering.)

WATCHED BY THE WORLD

"I thank you for this opportunity of greeting so many of your people. I am gratified at the interest which you are taking in this campaign. I want you to realize that in this contest we have an issue which appeals to every man, woman, and child in the land. Aye, more than that, upon the decision of the United States may turn the financial policy of the world. Not only in America, but all over the world, the toiling masses are looking for relief to that nation which ought to stand foremost in every great reform. We have an opportunity which comes to few generations, but that opportunity brings with it is great responsibilities. The policy advocated by our opponents is a continuation of the gold standard policy which they dare not defend, the continuation of that policy until some of the foreign nations will help us to help ourselves. (Cheers and laughter.) If the gold standard is a good thing, I ask you why did not the Republican party at St. Louis declare that the gold standard should be maintained permanently? And if the gold standard is a bad thing, why was it so cowardly as to say to the American people, 'You should submit to a bad thing until some foreign potentates and powers come to the relief of a suffering people'? (Cheers.) Put these two questions to your opponents and you drive them from the battle field. The first is, if the gold standard is good, why not keep it? And if bad, why should we keep it for a single moment? (Great cheering.) I thank you for your attention."