THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARDS 181 



restore bimetallism, and then let England have bimetal- 

 lism because the United States has it. If they dare to 

 come out in the open field and defend the gold stand- 

 ard as a good thing, we will fight them to the utter- 

 most. Having behind us the producing masses of this 

 nation and the world, supported by the commercial 

 interests, the laboring interests, and the toilers every- 

 where, we will answer their demand for a gold standard 

 by saying to them: You shall not press down upon 

 the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not 

 crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. 



Meeting Senator Hill's careful arguments with 

 a clever retort, blunting the keenness of his logic 

 with a well-turned period, polished to perfection 

 by numerous repetitions before all sorts of audi- 

 ences during the previous three or four years, Bry- 

 an held the convention in the hollow of his hand. 

 The leadership which had hitherto been lacking 

 was now found. The platform as reported by the 

 committee was adopted by a vote of more than 

 two to one; and the convention, but for the opposi- 

 tion of Bryan himself, would have nominated him 

 on the spot. The next day it took but five ballots 

 to set aside all the favorite sons, including the 

 "Father of Free Silver" himself, Richard P. Bland, 

 and to make Bryan the standard bearer of the party. 



Far different in character and appearance from 



