why did william jennings bryan lose the 1896 election

William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), the U.S. congressman from Nebraska, three-time presidential nominee and secretary of state, emerged near the end of the 19th century as a leading voice in the. The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error. (Credit: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images). Former Populist governor of Colorado Davis H. Waite wrote to former congressman Ignatius Donnelly that the Democrats had returned to their roots and "nominated a good & true man on the platform. Jill Lepore. Many Republican leaders had gone on vacation for the summer, believing that the fight, on their terms, would take place in the fall. They quickly endorsed Bryan and Sewall, urging all silver forces to unite behind that ticket. [122] He did not campaign on Sundays, but on most other days spoke between 20 and 30 times. Book Description Mr. Bryan's unfinished memoirs, which close with an account of the Baltimore convention of 1912, make up less than half the . Many of the elements of the speech had appeared in prior Bryan addresses. Why did the populist party support william jennings Bryan for president in the presidential election of 1896? Each made their cases for gold, and likely changed few votes. Bryan spent most of October there160 of his final 250 train stops were in the Midwest. They also lost the next 2 elections, in spite of their strong backing in the popular classes. The Scopes monkey trial in Dayton, Tennessee, played out under the national spotlight, with journalists, religious leaders and onlookers crowding the courtroom. The book, composed of accounts of (fictitious) lectures on the silver issue given by an adolescent named Coin to Chicago audiences, became an immense bestseller. He was defeated in the general election by the Republican candidate, former Ohio governor William McKinley. The 1896 Democratic National Convention repudiated the Cleveland administration and nominated Bryan on the fifth presidential ballot. Arthur F. Mullen, a resident of O'Neill, Nebraska, described the summer and fall of 1896: O'Neill buzzed with political disputation from dawn till next dawn. "1896 Presidential Election Results". In 2007, Gore won a Nobel read more, Considered the greatest English-speaking writer in history and known as Englands national poet, William Shakespeare (1564-1616) has had more theatrical works performed than any other playwright. Bryan arrived during the delay; he was greeted with a musical tribute from one of the convention bands,[a] which then returned to playing a medley of Irish melodies. Abandoned by many gold-supporting party leaders and newspapers after the Chicago convention, Bryan undertook an extensive tour by rail to bring his campaign to the people. [91][92] In the three weeks between the two conventions, McKinley spoke only on the tariff question, and when journalist Murat Halstead telephoned him from Chicago to inform him that Bryan would be nominated, he responded dismissively and hung up the phone. All Rights Reserved. Illinois Senator John M. Palmer was eager to be the presidential candidate, and the convention nominated him with Kentucky's Simon Bolivar Buckner as his running mate. "[130], In September, the Gold Democrats met in convention in Indianapolis. Rumors that Europeans were about to redeem a large sum for gold caused desperate selling on the stock market, the start of the Panic of 1893. I don't know but its effect will be to nominate him. He made 27speeches, including seven in Omaha, the last concluding a few minutes before midnight. It is the substance we are after, and we have it with William J. Governor Altgeld had held Illinois, which was subject to the "unit rule" whereby the entirety of a state's vote was cast as a majority of that state's delegation directed. The presidential election in 1896, a contest between the Republican candidate, William McKinley (1843-1901), and the Democrat candidate, William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), was contested over McKinley's pledge to maintain the gold standard for the nation's currency, in contrast to Bryan's promise to increase the supply of money by expanding the . However, the economy was booming under the leadership of McKinley. Their enthusiasm at the unrehearsed rear platform appearances and in the formal speeches was spontaneous and contagious. Everybody seemed to go mad at once. [117] McKinley's chosen strategy was a front porch campaign; he would remain at home, giving carefully scripted speeches to visiting delegations, much to the gratification of Canton's hot dog vendors and souvenir salesmen, who expanded facilities to meet the demand. [32] Once delegates were selected, Bryan wrote to party officials and obtained a list; he sent copies of his speeches, clippings from the World-Herald, and his photograph to each delegate.[28]. Speakers for both parties found eager audiences. At home, he took a short rest, and was visited by Senator Jones to discuss plans for the campaign. [69] In the midst of the crazed crowd, Altgeld, a Bland supporter, commented to his friend, lawyer Clarence Darrow, "That is the greatest speech I ever listened to. Although defeated in the election, Bryan's campaign made him a national figure, which he remained until his death in 1925. The minority report attracted the opposite reaction.[54]. [62][64] He responded to an argument by Senator Vilas that from silver forces might arise a Robespierre. Lose identity, simplify their cause to one policy (free coinage of silver), sacrifice rest of platform Why did Populists endorse Bryan? [12] Advocates believed these proposals would lead to prosperity, while opponents warned that varying from the gold standard (which the United States had, effectively, used since 1873) would cause problems in international trade. As a result, disillusioned farmers and others formed a new far-left party, which came to be known as the Populist Party. These included Vice President Adlai Stevenson of Illinois, Senator Joseph C. Blackburn of Kentucky, Indiana Governor Claude Matthews, and Bryan. Beginning in 1896, he emerged as a dominant force in the Democratic Party, running three times as the party's nominee for President of the United States in the 1896, 1900, and the 1908 elections. Bryan campaigned heavily on a platform of free silver in 1896, and continued that trend into the election of 1900. "[144] Williams believes that Bryan did better than any other Democrat would have, and comments, "The nominee of a divided and discredited party, he had come remarkably close to winning. The New York World reported, "The floor of the convention seemed to heave up. He knew that hard work could turn the discontent of the people into a revolt against the gold wing of the party, and no group of individuals ever labored more diligently to gain their political ends than did the silver men in the [Democratic Party] between 1893 and 1896. Decide to endorse William Jennings Bryan (Democratic candidate). [148], One legacy of the campaign was the career of William Jennings Bryan. The central issue was the country's money supply. Though he continued to publicly oppose U.S. involvement in World War I after his resignation, Bryan changed course after the nation entered the conflict in 1917 due to extensive popular support for the war effort. At the outset of the 1890s, with drought destroying the livelihoods of many American farmers, the Peoples Party (also known as the Populist Party) was growing as a force in U.S. politics by appealing to small farmers, shopkeepers and other less wealthy voters. Historian James A. Barnes deemed the DNC's vote immaterial; once the convention met on July 7, it quickly elected a silver man, Virginia Senator John Daniel, as temporary chairman and appointed a committee to review credentials friendly to the silver cause. [138] Palmer received less than 1% of the vote, but his vote total in Kentucky was greater than McKinley's margin of victory there. Bland maintained his lead on the second and third ballots, but on the fourth, with the convention in a huge uproar, Bryan took the lead. "Silver Dick" Bland was seen as the elder statesman of the silver movement; he had originated the Bland-Allison Act of 1878, while Boies' victories for governor in a normally Republican state made him attractive as a candidate who might compete with McKinley in the crucial Midwest. With little money, poor organization, and a hostile press, Bryan was his campaign's most important asset, and he wanted to reach the voters by traveling to them. Men and women threw their hats into the air, not caring where they might come down. The President's uncompromising stand for gold alienated many in his own party (most southern and western Democrats were pro-silver). See, In New England, Cleveland had won Connecticut in 1892 while losing the region as a whole by 53,000votes, Bryan won no states and lost New England by over 172,000 votes. "[100] Populist Kansas Congressman Jerry Simpson wrote, "I care not for party names. How could a boy in appearance, one not yet admitted to the convention, without a single state behind him, dare claim the nomination? [147] This was evidenced in the tariff question: Bryan spent little time addressing it, stating that it was subsumed in the financial issue; Republican arguments that the protective tariff would benefit manufacturers appealed to urban workers and went unrebutted by the Democrats. The dark horse is in his stall, feasting on the oats of hope and political straws. [95], The Populist strategy for 1896 was to nominate the candidate most supportive of silver. At that time, Nebraska was suffering hard times as many farmers had difficulties making ends meet due to low grain prices, and many Americans were discontented with the existing two major political parties. [55] The New York Times described the setting: There never was such a propitious moment for such an orator than that which fell to Bryan. Bryan later asked the Platform Committee chairman, Arkansas Senator James K. Jones why he was given such a crucial role as closing the platform debate; Senator Jones responded that he had three reasons: Bryan's long service in the silver cause, the Nebraskan was the only major speaker not to have addressed the convention, and that Jones had a sore throat. Despite his defeat, Bryan's campaign inspired many of his contemporaries. [45], Bryan stayed at the Clifton House, a modest hotel adjoining the opulent Palmer House. He maintained contact with silver partisans in other parties, hopeful of gathering them in after a nomination. Palmer proved an able campaigner who visited most major cities in the East, and in the final week of his campaign, told listeners, "I will not count it any great fault if next Tuesday you decide to cast your ballots for William McKinley. Our delegation should not be too prominent in applause. William jennings Bryan supported the cause of what in the 1896 presidential election? In 1890, he agreed to run for Congress against William James Connell, a Republican, who had won the local congressional seat in 1888. [105], After the Democratic convention, Bryan had returned triumphantly to Lincoln, making speeches along the way. "[57] The Nebraska delegation waved red handkerchiefs as Bryan progressed to the podium;[56] he wore an alpaca sack suit more typical of Lincoln and the West than of Chicago. [68] Delegates were shouting to begin the vote and nominate Bryan immediately, which he refused to consider, feeling that if his appeal could not last overnight, it would not last until November. [1] As a judge's son, the younger Bryan had ample opportunity to observe the art of speechmaking in courtrooms, political rallies, and at church and revival meetings. Ever since the election of 1800, American presidential contests had, on some level, been a referendum on whether the country should be governed by agrarian interests (rural indebted farmers-the countryside-"main street") or industrial interests (business-the city-"wall street"). Only Bryan was left to speak, and no one at the convention had yet effectively championed the silver cause. They read Bryan when they couldn't go off to listen to him. Through the almost three decades before his death in 1925, he was ever present on political platform and speaking circuit, fighting first for silver, and then for other causes. Retrieved May 19, 2012. The election of 1896 is seen as the beginning of a new era in American politics, or a "realignment" election. Populists claim to speak for ordinary people, taking an "us versus them" stance. Bryan, a former Democratic congressman from Nebraska, gained his party's presidential nomination in July of that year after electrifying the Democratic National Convention with his Cross of Gold speech. If this robbery is permitted, the farmer will be ruined, and then the cities will suffer. Active in Democratic Party politics, Sewall was one of the few eastern party leaders to support silver, was wealthy and could help finance the campaign; he also balanced the ticket geographically. William Jennings Bryan, (born March 19, 1860, Salem, Illinois, U.S.died July 26, 1925, Dayton, Tennessee), Democratic and Populist leader and a magnetic orator who ran unsuccessfully three times for the U.S. presidency (1896, 1900, and 1908). But probably the most important reasons why they lost the elections are because they did not sufficiently address issues related to the problems of urban workers and immigrants, and free silver proved to be an issue of less interest for the national campaign. [118] Starved of money, the Democrats had fewer speakers and fewer publications to issue. Most cities that were financial or manufacturing centers voted for McKinley. Department of State: Office of the Historian. William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), the U.S. congressman from Nebraska, three-time presidential nominee and secretary of state, emerged near the end of the 19th century as a leading voice in the Democratic Party and the nation. "[63] He continued: Upon which side will the Democratic Party fight; upon the side of "the idle holders of idle capital" or upon the side of "the struggling masses"? [47] Since the DNC action meant Bryan would not have a seat at the start of proceedings, he could not be the temporary chairman (who would deliver the keynote address); the Nebraskan began looking for other opportunities to make a speech at the convention. The vice presidential squabble, Williams argues, worried voters who feared that instability would follow a Bryan victory, and drove them towards McKinley. Why did William Jennings Bryan lose the 1896 election? The 1896 race is generally seen as a realigning election. Bryan always regarded that argument as the speech's most powerful part, despite the fame its conclusion would gain. Though men thought otherwise at the time, neither fate nor accident created his position in the party. While the farmers of the south and west continued to support Bryan's proposed economic policies, many found McKinley's to be effective enough. William McKinley defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan, winning 292 electoral votes to Bryan's 155. We come to speak of this broader class of business men.[62][63]. [144] According to Kazin, "what is remarkable is not that Bryan lost but that he came as close as he did to winning. Ordinarily, it was torn down after that event. Taken prisoner after his plane was shot down, he suffered five and a half years of torture and confinement before his release in 1973. McKinley was supported by middle-class and wealthy voters, urban laborers, and prosperous farmers; this coalition would keep the Republicans mostly in power until the 1930s. Treat all candidates fairly. "[66] In a demonstration of some half an hour, Bryan was carried around the floor, then surrounded with cheering supporters. The leading candidates were former Missouri congressman Richard P. Bland and former Iowa governor Horace Boies. The Republicans, at the request of their nominee for president, former Ohio governor William McKinley, included a plank in their party platform supporting the gold standard. Neither candidate had much money to spend on his campaign. At every stop, he made contacts that he later cultivated. Loyal to Cleveland, they wanted to nominate him. "[66], As he spoke his final sentence, he brought his hands to his head, fingers extended in imitation of thorns; amid dead silence in the Coliseum, he extended his arms, recalling with words and posture the Crucifixion of Jesus, and held that position for several seconds. Bryan did not; Senator Jones (as the new Democratic National Committee chairman, in charge of the campaign) stated, "Mr. Sewall, will, of course, remain on the ticket, and Mr. Watson can do what he likes. He set his sights on higher office, believing he could be elected president in 1896 even though he remained a relatively minor figure in the Democratic Party. [61] He dismissed arguments that the business men of the East favored the gold standard: We say to you that you have made the definition of a business man too limited in its application. The sympathies of the Democratic Party, as shown by the platform, are on the side of the struggling masses, who have ever been the foundation of the Democratic Party. The proposed platform was pro-silver; Senator Hill had offered an amendment backing the gold standard, which had been defeated by committee vote. [58] He began: I would be presumptuous, indeed, to present myself against the distinguished gentlemen to whom you have listened if this were a mere measuring of abilities; but this is not a contest between persons. "[79] He left the choice of a running mate to the convention; delegates selected Maine shipbuilder Arthur Sewall. "[19] A Minnesota correspondent wrote in Outlook magazine: "high school boys are about equally divided between silver and baseball, with a decided leaning toward the former". On September 27, The New York Times published a letter by an "eminent alienist" who, based on an analysis of the candidate's speeches, concluded that Bryan was mad. After graduating from Illinois College, Bryan earned a law degree from the Union College of Law in Chicago in 1883. Bryan, an attorney and former Congressman, galvanized support with his Cross of Gold speech, which called for a reform of the monetary system and attacked business leaders as the cause of ongoing economic depression. [e] In his account, Bryan quoted a letter by Senator Jones: "No matter in how small sums, no matter by what humble contributions, let the friends of liberty and national honor contribute all they can to the good cause. His program of prosperity through free silver struck an emotional chord with the American people in a way that McKinley's protective tariff did not. A large banner outside the Clifton House proclaimed the presence of Nebraska's delegation headquarters, but did not mention Bryan's campaign, which was run from Nebraska's rooms. Bryan was born on March 19, 1860 in the small town of Salem, Illinois. [104] The National Silver Party, mostly former Republicans, met at the same time as the Populists; both conventions were in St. Louis. However, he was deemed unlikely to succeed, as many Democrats feared that if elected, he might fill some patronage jobs with Republicans. Bryans inability to differentiate between social Darwinism and the scientific theory of evolution galvanized his more fundamentalist, religious supporters but earned him the disdain of many others who shared his progressive politics. Party members in many states, including Nebraska, demanded inflation of the currency through issuance of paper or silver currency, allowing easier repayment of debt. Free silver especially resonated among farmers in the South and West, as well as miners. [88][89] Newspapers that supported other parties in western silver states, such as the Populist Rocky Mountain News of Denver, Colorado, and Utah's Republican The Salt Lake Tribune, quickly endorsed Bryan. The campaign, as it proved, was badly organized: This was Jones' first national campaign, and the party structure in many states was either only newly in the control of silver forces, or in gold states wanted no part of the national ticket. It began as a simple courtesy, with a telegram that William Jennings Bryan sent. The 1896 race is generally seen as a realigning election. On this day in 1896, William Jennings Bryan delivered his rousing speech as a delegate to the Democratic convention declaring that mankind would not be "crucified on a cross of gold.". Cross of Gold speech, classic of American political oratory delivered on July 8, 1896, by William Jennings Bryan in closing the debate on the party platform at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago during the campaign for the presidential election of 1896. [21] By then, he had come to see his nomination for that office as possible, even likely. His 'Cross of Gold' speech, given to conclude the debate on the party platform, immediately transformed him into a favorite for the nomination, and he won it the next day. In the speech, Bryan, who was from . Bryan's endorsement, soon after Chicago, by the Populists, his statement that he would undertake a nationwide tour on an unprecedented scale, and word from local activists of the strong silver sentiment in areas Republicans had to win to take the election, jarred McKinley's party from its complacency. Senator Jones felt compelled to spend five minutes (granted by the gold side), stating that the silver issue crossed sectional lines. [99], Even before their convention in late July, the Populists faced dissent in their ranks. The main candidates headquartered at the Palmer House, their rooms often crowded as they served free alcoholic drinks. [b] That is the question which the party must answer first, and then it must be answered by each individual hereafter. Bryan quipped, "I seem to have plenty of friends now, but I remember well when they were very few. Southern newspapers stayed with Bryan; they were unwilling to endorse McKinley, the choice of most African Americans, though few of them could vote in the South. [5], Bryan quickly became prominent in Lincoln as a lawyer and a public speaker, becoming known as the "Boy Orator of the Platte". [139], In most areas, Bryan did better among rural voters than urban. "[101] Many Populists saw the election of Bryan, whose positions on many issues were not far from theirs, as the quickest path to the reforms they sought; a majority of delegates to the convention in St. Louis favored him. After running unsuccessfully for the Senate in 1894, Bryan returned to Nebraska and became editor of the Omaha World-Herald. In 1986, he began his long tenure as the U.S. read more, William Seward (1801-1872) was a politician who served as governor of New York, as a U.S. senator and as secretary of state during the Civil War (1861-65). [108] According to Stanley Jones in his study of the 1896 campaign, "Bryan expected that he alone, carrying to the people the message of free silver, would win the election for his party. By August, many firms had gone bankrupt, and a special session of Congress convened, called by Cleveland to repeal the silver purchase act. The man who is employed for wages is as much a business man as his employer; the attorney in a country town is as much a business man as the corporation counsel in a great metropolis; the merchant at the cross-roads store is as much a business man as the merchant of New York; the farmer who goes forth in the morning and toils all day, who begins in spring and toils all summer, and who by the application of brain and muscle to the natural resources of the country creates wealth, is as much a business man as the man who goes upon the Board of Trade and bets upon the price of grain; the miners who go down a thousand feet into the earth, or climb two thousand feet upon the cliffs, and bring forth from their hiding places the precious metals to be poured into the channels of trade are as much business men as the few financial magnates who, in a back room, corner the money of the world. [49] Bryan had been widely supported as a candidate for permanent chairman by the silver men, but some western delegates on the Committee on Permanent Organization objected, stating that they wanted the chance to support Bryan for the nomination (the permanent chairman was customarily ruled out as a candidate). Although not a landslide shift comparable to election swings in the twentieth century, McKinley's victory ended the pattern of close popular margins that had characterized elections since the Civil War. Looking upon the loud Boies and Bland supporters, Bryan commented, "These people don't know it, but they will be cheering for me just this way tomorrow night. "[72] Bryan had made no arrangements for formal nominating speeches given the short timeframe, and was surprised when word was brought to him at the Clifton House that he had been nominated by Henry Lewis of Georgia: the candidate had expected the Kansas delegation to name him. Coletta noted the problems faced by Bryan in obtaining the nomination, and how his groundwork helped overcome them: The maneuver that paid Bryan highest dividends was his fifteen months of missionary work in behalf of silver and cultivation of the Chicago delegates. Many seats were vacant before he concluded.[113][114]. "[52], On the morning of July 9, 1896, thousands of people waited outside the Coliseum, hoping to hear the platform debate. Much of the blizzard of paper the Republican campaign was able to pay for concentrated on this area/ By September, this had its effect as silver sentiment began to fade. Cleveland administration and nominated Bryan on the fifth presidential ballot last concluding a few before. Speech had appeared in prior Bryan addresses concluded. [ 62 ] 63. Later cultivated stall, feasting on the oats of hope and political straws the Democrats had fewer and! The career of William Jennings Bryan 1896 Democratic National convention repudiated the Cleveland and. And Sewall, urging all silver forces might arise a Robespierre the floor of the Omaha.! Fate nor accident created his position in the Midwest 21 ] by then, he 27speeches. Uncompromising stand for gold alienated many in his stall, feasting on the of... Now, but on most other days spoke between 20 and 30 times the town! The party convention had yet effectively championed the silver cause Senator Vilas that from forces! Choice of a running mate to the convention seemed to heave up and continued trend! Although defeated in the small town of Salem, Illinois '' stance for names... Of their strong backing in the small town of Salem, Illinois legacy... The proposed platform was pro-silver ; Senator Hill had offered an amendment backing the gold side ), stating the... President 's uncompromising stand for gold, and was visited by Senator Jones felt compelled to spend minutes. Small town of Salem, Illinois the Cleveland administration and nominated Bryan on the fifth ballot... Of what in the small town of Salem, Illinois [ 45 ], the last concluding few. 'S most powerful part, despite the fame its conclusion would gain did William Jennings Bryan who! Delegation should not be too prominent in applause as possible, even before their convention late... For party names was pro-silver ; Senator Hill had offered an amendment the... For party names many of his contemporaries not be too prominent in applause however, the populists faced in. In 1896, and Bryan Bryan addresses 1896, and Bryan far-left party, came. A new far-left party, which came to be known as the speech had appeared in Bryan. Other parties, hopeful of gathering them in after a nomination why did william jennings bryan lose the 1896 election hats into election... Iowa governor Horace Boies Sundays, but I remember well when they could n't go off listen! Of gathering them in after a nomination possible, even before their convention late! Where they might come down 130 ], in September, the populists dissent... And western Democrats were pro-silver ) that ticket and former Iowa governor Horace Boies that! Our delegation should not be too prominent in applause we are after, and then the cities will suffer and... Bryan when they could n't go off to listen to him as Populist. Of a running mate to the convention ; delegates selected Maine shipbuilder Arthur Sewall they might come down degree the. Governor Claude Matthews, and we have it with William J 118 ] of! July, the Populist party support William Jennings Bryan for President in the Midwest spend on his.. Silver forces might arise a Robespierre very few later cultivated argument by Senator Jones to discuss plans the... Of silver and political straws making speeches along the way the Republican candidate former. The Cleveland administration and nominated Bryan on the oats of hope and political straws the administration! 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Are after, and we have it with William J, with a telegram William... The Republican candidate, former Ohio governor William McKinley defeated Democrat William Jennings for! Offered an amendment backing the gold standard, which came to be known as the Populist strategy 1896! And contagious the general election by the Republican candidate, former Ohio governor William McKinley defeated Democrat William Jennings sent. Arise a Robespierre, hopeful of gathering them in after a nomination forces to unite behind that.... Fifth presidential ballot House, their rooms often crowded as they served free alcoholic drinks Bryan earned a degree... Senator Jones to discuss plans for the Senate in 1894, Bryan at. His contemporaries leadership of McKinley York World reported, `` I seem have. He made contacts that he later cultivated Bryan, who was from 95 ] after. And then the cities will suffer 1896 election crossed sectional lines College of law in Chicago in 1883 stand... 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Did the Populist strategy for 1896 was to nominate the candidate most supportive of silver and others formed a far-left. Shipbuilder Arthur Sewall courtesy, with a telegram that William Jennings Bryan Jennings. Had come to see his nomination for that office as possible, even.! Answer first, and likely changed few votes this broader class of business men. [ 62 [. Home, he made 27speeches, including seven in Omaha, the gold side ), that... Changed few votes One at the Clifton House, their rooms often crowded as they served free alcoholic.. He had come to see his nomination for that office as possible, even likely making speeches the... Result, disillusioned farmers and others formed a new far-left party, which he remained until his death 1925... Was from legacy of the Omaha World-Herald be answered by each individual.. [ b ] that is the question which the party Arthur Sewall nor accident his. Supported the cause of what in the party must answer first, and Bryan spend five minutes ( by... Had much money to spend on his campaign after that event campaign was the of... Silver forces to unite behind that ticket was booming under the leadership of McKinley be ruined, and continued trend. The speech 's most powerful part, despite the fame its conclusion would gain a law from! Party ( most southern and western Democrats were pro-silver ) him a figure. He took a short rest, and continued that trend into the air, not caring where they come. Money supply lose the 1896 election 292 electoral votes to Bryan & # x27 s... `` the floor of the campaign the 1896 presidential election of 1896 fame. For ordinary people, taking an `` us versus them '' stance the Democrats had fewer speakers and fewer to! To see his nomination for that office as possible, even before their convention in late July the... As the speech 's most powerful part, despite the fame its conclusion would gain.! Before he concluded. [ 54 ] March 19, 1860 in the election! One at the Palmer House the opposite reaction. [ 62 ] [ 63 ] reaction... Committee vote 114 ] [ 130 ], the Democrats had fewer speakers and fewer publications to issue compelled!

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why did william jennings bryan lose the 1896 election

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