Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech was a tactic to sway the American people to support the free coinage of silver. The Democratic party was swimming against the tide during the time, the rest of the country wanting to stray away from bimetallism while they wanted to absorb it. But Americans, wanting to stay in touch with the time period, chose to remain trapped in a world ruled by gold along with a number of other countries at that point in history. Bryan continued to state how America wouldn't be alone for long since it was most likely their switch to silver would soon be followed by other countries such as Britain. Bryan continued to state how the destruction of a city would just lead to another rising in its place, but the destruction of a farm meant it would never rise again. Suffering would be inevitable after that and people would only rush to their rescue. Bryan finishes the speech by stating how they cannot--shall not--"crucify mankind upon a cross of gold." (italics added)
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