Charleston, WV Speech, 1896-10-02

Speech by William Jennings Bryan.

Speech by William Jennings Bryan
Friday, October 2, 1896
Depot, Charleston, WV

Source: SPEECH AT CHARLESTON, Ten Thousand People Hear the Democratic Nominee, Omaha World-Herald (Morning Edition), Saturday, October 3, 1896

"Ladies and Gentlemen: In this capital of West Virginia I desire to express my thanks for the very cordial welcome which has been extended to me by the members of the triple alliance. I find here upon the platform Democrats, Republicans and Populists, members of all three parties, who, while differing among themselves on minor questions, are united in their determination to restore to the people of this country the gold and silver coinage of the constitution. (Cheers.)

I believe that in this campaign we are entitled to the support of all political parties who believe still in a government of the people, by the people and for the people. (Cheers.) We may differ upon the application of fundamental principles to the various questions which may arise. We may differ in opinion upon policies suggested by various parties, but, my friends, whenever any party in this nation denies the ability of the nation to have such a financial policy as the American people want to have, the other questions disappear and we stand united to vindicate the right of self-government.

Those who have been Republicans in the past, those who have voted the Republican ticket from the time the party was organized, find ample excuse for departing from that party this year. Go back to 1888 and you will find that the Republican party declared for gold and silver as standard money, and even went so far as to denounce the Democratic party for trying to demonetize silver. (Applause.) Read that platform adopted by the Republican National Convention of 1888 and see how it tried to turn the indignation of the people against the democratic administration because that administration had been hostile to silver, and on that platform the republican party won the lection. In 1892, the national convention of the Republican party declared that the American people, from tradition and interest, were in favor of bimetallism."