Salisbury, NC Speech, 1896-09-17

Speech by William Jennings Bryan.

Speech by William Jennings Bryan
Thursday, September 17, 1896 at 11:15am
Outdoors, Salisbury, NC

Source: STRANGE CONVERSION., Mr. Bryan Ridicules Republicans Now Sponsors for Cleveland., Omaha World-Herald (Morning Edition), Friday, September 18, 1896

"I am informed that Andrew Jackson was a law student in this city, and I am glad to tread the soil made sacred by the hero of New Orleans. (Applause.) The principles for which I stand before the people are the principles taught by Jackson, when he was the idol, not of Democracy alone, but of the great common people whom he at all times defended. (Applause.) When Jackson was President his greatest fight was against the United States national banks. Those connected with the great banking influence denounced him and applied to him just such abusive epithets as the money owning and changing class applied to Thomas Jefferson before him, and have applied to everyone since who did not bow the knee to Baal and worship the golden calf. (Applause.) At that time all the money influences of this country were combined for his overthrow, just as they have today combined to perpetuate a government of syndicates, by syndicates and for syndicates. (Applause.)

LABORERS WARNED.

I am glad to note the intense interest in this campaign. I have noticed it all along the line. Our opponents try to divide the toiling masses and put the laboring men in opposition to the farmer. I warn laborers not to desert the farmers who have been the friend of labor in every struggle to better their condition. The very people who today are attempting to use laboring men to defeat the farmer in their just cause, are the same people who have oppressed labor from the beginning of the world and who will do so again the moment they have the opportunity. (Cheers.)

We have lost a few Democrats by desertion, but the number is growing less each day because the Democrats who have not entirely agreed with us, find that if they leave the Democratic party in its great struggle with plutocracy, they leave it to make a permanent home with those whom Democracy has always fought since it became a party. (Applause.) They realize they cannot afford to separate themselves from those with whom their interests and sympathies lie." (Cheers.)