William Jennings Bryan's "A Cross of Gold" Speech: List 2

On July 8, 1896, William Jennings Bryan, a former Congressman from Nebraska, rose to address the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In his now famous "A Cross of Gold" speech, Bryan called for the coinage of silver currency to gold currency at a ratio of 16 to 1. In those days, all money was either gold or backed by gold actually held by the government. Bryan’s "bimetallism" proposal would have created inflation or "cheap money" to aid the poor farmers and workers who were his supporters. Business leaders and the Republicans opposed it. Considered one of the greatest political speeches of all time, Bryan’s fiery delivery mesmerized the convention and led to his nomination as the Democratic candidate for president. Read the full text here.

Here are links to our lists for the speech: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. compliment
    express respect or esteem for
    As individuals we might have been glad to compliment the gentleman from New York [Senator Hill], but we know that the people for whom we speak would never be willing to put him in a position where he could thwart the will of the Democratic party.
  2. thwart
    hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
    As individuals we might have been glad to compliment the gentleman from New York [Senator Hill], but we know that the people for whom we speak would never be willing to put him in a position where he could thwart the will of the Democratic party.
  3. principle
    a basic truth or law or assumption
    I say it was not a question of persons; it was a question of principle, and it is not with gladness, my friends, that we find ourselves brought into conflict with those who are now arrayed on the other side.
  4. assure
    give somebody confidence of the truth of something
    The gentleman who preceded me [ex-Governor Russell] spoke of the State of Massachusetts; let me assure him that not one present in all this convention entertains the least hostility to the people of the State of Massachusetts, but we stand here representing people who are the equals before the law, of the greatest citizens in the State of Massachusetts.
  5. convention
    a large formal assembly
    The gentleman who preceded me [ex-Governor Russell] spoke of the State of Massachusetts; let me assure him that not one present in all this convention entertains the least hostility to the people of the State of Massachusetts, but we stand here representing people who are the equals before the law, of the greatest citizens in the State of Massachusetts.
    Bryan was speaking at the Democratic Party's nominating convention where they would select their presidential candidate and party platform.
  6. entertain
    take into consideration or have in view
    The gentleman who preceded me [ex-Governor Russell] spoke of the State of Massachusetts; let me assure him that not one present in all this convention entertains the least hostility to the people of the State of Massachusetts, but we stand here representing people who are the equals before the law, of the greatest citizens in the State of Massachusetts.
  7. hostility
    a state of deep-seated ill-will
    The gentleman who preceded me [ex-Governor Russell] spoke of the State of Massachusetts; let me assure him that not one present in all this convention entertains the least hostility to the people of the State of Massachusetts, but we stand here representing people who are the equals before the law, of the greatest citizens in the State of Massachusetts.
  8. wage
    payment for work
    The man who is employed for wages is as much a business man as his employer...
  9. attorney
    a professional person authorized to practice law
    ...the attorney in a country town is as much a business man as the corporation counsel in a great metropolis...
  10. counsel
    a lawyer who pleads cases in court
    ...the attorney in a country town is as much a businessman as the corporation counsel in a great metropolis...
  11. metropolis
    a large and densely populated urban area
    ...the attorney in a country town is as much a businessman as the corporation counsel in a great metropolis...
    Metropolis is a synonym for large city.
  12. toil
    work hard
    ...the farmer who goes forth in the morning and toils all day—who begins in the 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...
  13. channel
    a means of communication or access
    ...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.
  14. financial
    involving fiscal matters
    ...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.
    Banking or business are synonyms for financial.
  15. magnate
    a very wealthy or powerful businessperson
    ...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.
  16. hardy
    invulnerable to fear or intimidation
    Ah, my friends, we say not one word against those who live upon the Atlantic coast, but the hardy pioneers who have braved all the dangers of the wilderness, who have made the desert to blossom as the rose...
  17. consideration
    kind and considerate regard for others
    ...the pioneers away out there [pointing to the West], who rear their children near to Nature's heart, where they can mingle their voices with the voices of the birds—out there where they have erected schoolhouses for the education of their young, churches where they praise their Creator, and cemeteries where rest the ashes of their dead—these people, we say, are as deserving of the consideration of our party as any people in this country.
  18. conquest
    the act of defeating and taking control of
    Our war is not a war of conquest; we are fighting in defense of our homes, our families, and posterity.
  19. posterity
    all future generations
    Our war is not a war of conquest; we are fighting in defense of our homes, our families, and posterity.
  20. petition
    request formally and in writing
    We have petitioned, and our petitions have been scorned; we have entreated, and our entreaties have been disregarded; we have begged, and they have mocked when our calamity came.
  21. scorn
    reject with contempt
    We have petitioned, and our petitions have been scorned; we have entreated, and our entreaties have been disregarded; we have begged, and they have mocked when our calamity came.
  22. entreat
    ask for or request earnestly
    We have petitioned, and our petitions have been scorned; we have entreated, and our entreaties have been disregarded; we have begged, and they have mocked when our calamity came.
  23. mock
    treat with contempt
    We have petitioned, and our petitions have been scorned; we have entreated, and our entreaties have been disregarded; we have begged, and they have mocked when our calamity came.
  24. calamity
    an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
    We have petitioned, and our petitions have been scorned; we have entreated, and our entreaties have been disregarded; we have begged, and they have mocked when our calamity came.
    Disaster and tragedy are synonyms for calamity.
  25. defy
    resist or confront with resistance
    We beg no longer; we entreat no more; we petition no more. We defy them.
Created on Thu Mar 14 09:01:24 EDT 2024 (updated Fri Mar 15 10:23:48 EDT 2024)

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