1896: Bourbonism and Bolshevism

[KaiserDave]

The Election of 1896


Wikimedia Commons

The election of 1896 came at a pivotal point in the history of the country, and everybody running said so. The Panic of 1893, the Pullman Strike, and the currency question had brought the class divide to the forefront of the national discussion. The economy was in shambles, and voters everywhere were looking for answers. At St. Louis Missouri, the Republicans had their answer; Former Ohio Governor William McKinley. McKinley had the support of operative Richard Hanna and his impressive party machinery, and with that he won the nomination with ease. New Jersey State Senator Garret Hobart was selected as his running mate. Their platform was simple, a strong commitment to the gold standard, a high tariff, and an active American global presence, including a canal in Central America and annexation of Hawaii.

The Democrats had no such smooth sailing. The party was sharply divided between the ascendent agrarian wing, which favored the free coinage of silver and bimetallism, and were influenced by populist ideals in regards to monopolies, the railroad industry, and the rights of labor, and the establishment Bourbons, which favored the gold standard, and government non interference in business affairs. The champion of the agrarian wing was former Missouri congressman Richard P. Bland, but ultimately, the party platform reflected a more moderate position, without a strong commitment to silver coinage, and without populist rhetoric on railroads and monopolies either. Despite an epic speech from former Nebraska Congressman William Jennings Bryan on the currency issue, in which he loudly proclaimed that American labor would not be crucified "on a cross of gold”, the gold delegates ultimately were too great in number (agrarians complained of shenanigans at state conventions, to no avail). Afterwards, the pro-gold former Massachusetts Governor and rising star William E. Russel was nominated, respected North Carolinian Judge Walter Clark was nominated as his running mate.

The People's Party (better known as the populists) were coming off an impressive showing in 1892, and were determined to press on, as they believed their views on labor, railroads, trusts, and coinage were vindicated by the panic of 1893. They nominated Jacob S. Coxley, equestrian, ex-Greenbacker, and advocate for public works who had marched on Washington to protest the appalling state of the economy. Ex-Democrat trade unionist Eugene Debs was nominated as his running mate. They campaigned on the coinage of silver, stronger labor laws, and new anti trust provisions. Populists were actively calling for massive reforms to American capitalism and currency, and for this they received the support of many of the agrarian and pro-Silver Democrats, including the orator Bryan.

There were various other splinter candidates running, but none with as notable traction as the three main parties.

[Benjamin Frank]

The 1890s were a pivotal time in the U.S as in addition to those reasons, the 'safety valve' of Western Expansion had been completed.

Although it seems 'go west young man' was more of a myth than anything for most Americans, as was the related idea that the ability to relocate to the west was a way to escape the ups and downs of the economy and abuse from trusts/monopolies, it was a myth that had a lot of currency among many Americans.

The closing of this 'safety valve' is one of the major arguments that President Theodore Roosevelt used in arguing for the expansion of the federal government and was the reason he referred to himself as the first modern president.

[Left Wing]

McKinley so we can at least begin from a place of sanity.

[Continential]

Accidently voted for Russel, meant to vote for McKinley

[KaiserDave]

Accidently voted for Russel, meant to vote for McKinley

Noted

[PPT Spiral]

McKinley

[S019]

Russell

[KaiserDave]

Leaving this open for a few more days, but not too much longer!

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

Toxic Coxey Bros harassed me on the streetcar and the Bourbon Democrat who represents me in the city council never responded to my telegram complaining about this so I am voting for William McKinley.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Democratic administration has been a disaster for the country. The public debt is exploded; the national interests of industry and commerce sacrificed to the sectional interests of one part of the country; the integrity of the government and public officers debased by the mean, craven, and unmanly administration of Democrats and the arch-Devil, Grover Cleveland. They have turned over the country to the rule of the dregs of society: a government of, by, and for swindlers and snake-oil salesmen, presumptuous petty usurers, the employers of foreign labor, and the professors of false foreign religion. We condemn in the same breath the unwashed radicals and foreign agitators calling themselves "the People's party" who with their friendliness to the labor anarchists would sacrifice the general prosperity of all the people for the special advantage of one class. We believe in the promotion of American industry ahead of sectional interest, in sound money, in the fair adjudication of the differences between employers and employed, and in the equality of our citizens before the law. We advocate for the policy of advancing our standard to the far corners of the world, and welcoming the peoples of Hawai'i and the Danish Islands into the brotherhood of liberty. We stand for honest government and competent administration under WILLIAM McKINLEY!

[KaiserDave]

Results: https://talkelections.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=457977.msg8201467#msg8201467