William Jennings Bryan, The First Battle: A Story of the
Campaign of 1896
(Chicago: W.B. Conkey Company, 1896), 352 and Omaha World-Herald (Morning Edition),
Omaha, NE, 28 August, 1896.
CAMPAIGN OF PRINCIPLES.
"This is a peculiar campaign. The people are engaged in this fight because they
believe that the triumph of the principles represented by the Chicago platform is absolutely
essential to the welfare of our nation. This is not merely an attempt to secure the Presidency in
order to divide the offices among a few of the people. Offices cut no figure in this campaign.
(Cheers.) I believe my experience has been rather an unusual one. The people who have come to me
have come with suggestions as to what can be done to help the cause and no one has come to ask me
for the promise of an office in case of my election. I have not discussed patronage with anybody. I
shall not discuss patronage with anybody during this campaign. (Cheers.) A man who in the midst of a
great battle stops to negotiate as to what official position he is to occupy when this battle is
over is unworthy to hold any position. (A voice in the crowd: "Peace on earth and good will to
men.")
Nor are we satisfied with securing the Presidency. The President alone is powerless to
secure legislation. He does not express his approval until the Senate and House have joined in a
measure, and I appeal to you, if you are interested in the success of our cause, to use your efforts
to secure a Senate and a House, as well as a President, favorable to there reforms. (Cheers.) The
Senate is practically secure.
We have reason to believe that the Senate which convenes on the fourth of March next
year will be in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at the present legal
ratio of 16 to 1 without waiting for the aid or consent of any other nation. But it is necessary
that we should have the House also. The House today is in the hands of the enemy and we must take
possession of the House in order to put any good measure into operation, and I beg you in every
Congressional district in this nation to see to it that no man shall receive a majority of the
votes, if you can help it, unless he goes there to fight for the money of the Constitution from the
day that he takes his seat until the last day he occupies a place in the House. (Cheers.) You have
in this district a man who has been tried and not found wanting. You have in this district one of
the ablest, one of the most fearless, one of the most eloquent advocates of this great cause. His
voice has been heard all over this land and you will be guilty of a desertion of this cause unless
you make Joseph C. Sibley your member of Congress at this election.
Now, remember that this cause rests on you. The candidates can do but little. They
cannot see all the people. They have no time to address their arguments to every voter. But we
commission each of you as aides in this great fight to go out and spread this gospel from now until
election day. We have faith not only in the intelligence of the people, and in the patriotism of the
people, but we have faith in the zeal among the people which enkindles an enthusiasm which all the
contributions of all the trusts and all the syndicates cannot extinguish in this campaign."