Bryan settled on a career in journalism
and lecturing. In the former, he wrote
editorials for the Omaha World-Herald.
In the latter, working through several
speakers bureaus, he became a paid lecturer. Earning anywhere from $50 to the
remarkable sum, for that time, of $200 per
speech, Bryan made major speeches four
or five times a week. Not uncommonly,
though, he also delivered speeches pro
bono for those who could not pay.
The Panic of 1893 brought about the worst
financial crisis in US history up to that
time. Among other precipitating factors,
the Panic resulted when a major eastern
railroad, the Reading, went into receivership due to over expansion and a resulting
inability to repay loans. This turn of events
caused the bankruptcy of about a quarter
of the nation’s railroads, the collapse of
600 banks and the closure of 16,000 businesses. Subsequently, the stock market
plunged, and an agricultural depression in
the South and West worsened.
Over the next few years, unemployment
rose to four million. Despite the seriousness of the situation, believing with many
politicians of the time that such events
were a normal part of the self-correcting
business cycle, President Cleveland took
little action. However, he did choose to
shore up the gold reserves — which had
dropped below the psychological barrier of
$100 million — via discounted bond sales to
J.P. Morgan and American representatives
of the Rothchilds. Both made huge profits.
As Clear as a Cathedral Bell
The Panic set the stage for the 1896 presidential election and Bryan’s speech at the
Democratic convention. According to historian Michael Kazin, once in office new presidents of that period usually did not entertain
the notion of radical changes in national
policy, but rather leaned toward conservative policies. Bryan, however, was different
and envisioned a radical transformation of a
political order increasingly controlled by the
power of great financial and manufacturing
corporations. A devout Presbyterian, Bryan
saw himself as the emerging leader of a great
moral crusade, which would bring about “a
regime of Christian decency” and an accompanying focus on the interests of farmers
and working people.
Library of Congress
It was the Worst of Times
1904 Puck cartoon featuring William Jennings Bryan walking along railroad tracks, following a sign “To Salt
River” (on the 1896 free silver dime). He is carrying a gold cross, crown of thorns, bellows and megaphone. He
is followed by Arthur Brisbane, James K. Jones, Charles A. Towne, Richard F. Pettigrew and Gardner F. Williams.
Leading up to the presidential election
of 1896, Bryan, through his numerous
speaking engagements, had kept his name
before the public and built a reputation as
a champion of the little man. So much so
that eventually he acquired the appellation, “the Great Commoner.”
Bryan’s nonpareil oratorical skills had
not come to him by chance. They were
the result of a lifetime of practice. As a
boy, his mother had him perform dramatic presentations from the McGuffey
Readers. Later, he studied with elocution teachers and participated in college debating opportunities. In this way,
Bryan perfected his speaking skills. In his
Memoirs, he wrote that, as a young man,
he had “felt the lure” of public speaking
and entered every speaking contest available. Observers characterized his speaking skills as “brilliant” and sometimes
“breathtaking.”
Leading up to the 1896 presidential
campaign, Bryan had become recognized by many as the finest orator of
his day. Even those who disagreed with
him acknowledged the magnificent quality of his voice. Before the invention of
the audio amplifier in 1909, the strength
of a speaker’s voice was one of his most
essential too