Belleville, IL Speech, 1896-09-14

Speech by William Jennings Bryan.

Speech by William Jennings Bryan
Monday, September 14, 1896
Depot, Belleville, IL

Source: PASSING THROUGH ILLINOIS., Democratic Nominee Gets Ovations All Along the Line., Omaha World-Herald (Morning Edition), Tuesday, September 15, 1896

"If the people of the United States deliberately throw their influence upon the side of the gold standard it simply means that they raise the value of an ounce of gold throughout the world. If we succumb to the influences which are opposed to us, the great money influences, these same influences will be turned upon weaker nations and nation after nation will be driven from the use of silver as every new nations that joins in the crusade for gold will make our property cheaper and our money dearer and give unearned advantage to the men who own money and change money, and add certain distress to the people who toil and produce the wealth of the world. (Cheers.) We are here in a great laboring community. I call your attention, men who toil, to the fact that not a single instance in the history of recorded time has the gold standard ever received the voluntary indorsement of those who labor. (Cheers.)

It has been supported, it has been defended by those who, instead of producing wealth, live upon the toil of others, and by holding and cornering the money of the world, charge what they will for it those who must have it to do the business of the world. Take away the gold standard, the support of the money owning classes and money changing classes, and it will not stand for a single day with any nation on earth. (Cheers.) I appeal to you to do your duty as you see it and let no threat and persuasion swerve you from making each vote register a free man's will."