William Jennings Bryan was a democrat from Nebraska. After delivering his famous "Cross of gold Speech" he was nominated by the democratic national convention in Chicago to run as the party's candidate in the 1896, 1900 and 1908 presidential elections. In his speech he labels the "money issue" as the "paramount" issue of the party and of the election. He carefully constructs a swaying argument through his use of rhetoric and literary devices such as imagery, metaphors, and strong diction and syntax. His platform supports the common man, praising those settlers of the west who live with nature, and says that no one should fear the emergence of a tyrant like Robespierre, but what is needed is an Andrew Jackson, to once again remove power from the wealthy elite and place government in the hands of the common man. He defends several principles of his platform such as the income tax, opposition to the national bank currency, the plank against life tenure in office, and most importantly, the coinage of silver, stating to those who disagree with him "You shall not crucify mankind on a cross of gold."
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