Carmi, IL Speech, 1896-09-14

Speech by William Jennings Bryan.

Speech by William Jennings Bryan
Monday, September 14, 1896 at 11:00am
Depot, Carmi, IL

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

"Our opponents tell us that if prices fall the farmer makes as much on what he buys cheap as he loses on what he sells cheap. They forget that some things do not fall. Your taxes are not falling. I know not how it is in this county, but as a rule the taxes on the farmer are as much today as they were twenty years ago. (A voice: "They are a great deal more.") Still it takes twice as much as the farmer produces to pay these taxes as it did then. Now all those who find a rising dollar a good thing are telling us that we must maintain a gold standard. My friends, let them think so if they will; let them vote that way if they desire to. But I want to impress upon your minds that you who are injured by a gold standard have got to secure yourselves through the ballot box if you are going to seek relief." (Applause.)