Page "Cross of Gold speech" Paragraph 59

Bryan's speech is considered one of the most powerful political addresses in American history.

Stanley Jones, however, suggested that even if Bryan had never made it, he would still have been nominated.

Jones deemed the Democrats likely to nominate a candidate who would appeal to the far-left Populist Party, and Bryan had been elected to Congress with Populist support.

According to political scientist William Harpine in his study of the rhetoric of the 1896 campaign, " Bryan's speech cast a net for the true believers, but only for the true believers.

" Harpine suggested that, " by appealing in such an uncompromising way to the agrarian elements and to the West, Bryan neglected the national audience who would vote in the November election ".

Bryan's emphasis on agrarian issues, both in his speech and in his candidacy, may have helped cement voting patterns which kept the Democrats largely out of power until the 1930s.