The Populist Party and William Jennings Bryan
The last real potential for a third party to force its way into the American poltical system came almost entirely from a man named William Jennings Bryan. Famous for his great speeches, his willingness to travel all about, rallying the western farmers to his cause, and his ultimate betrayal of his young party in the moment of truth, William Jennings Bryan was the Populist to end all Populists; and when he ended his career, so did the Populist party. William Jennings Bryan had wild support, but the established American system was out to get him, and his short-lived attempt at introducing a third party. This cartoon is part of that system of tearing down a third party; it downright discredits the Populist Party as a movement. The Republican party concocted cartoons such as this, showing that the Populists were radicals, and discouraging their voter base, all while Bryan decided to run simultaneously for two parties, splitting up his vote and weakening his support.
This lends itself readily to the idea of the crushing of rebellions. The young Democrat and Republican parties, so accustomed to a two-party system, easily crushed the last third party challenger. William Jennings Bryan’s very stance was that of rebellion; he wanted free silver to help shrug off debts, he wanted Anti-Imperialism, to encourage the Americans living in America to exploits its resources, rather than have the big government and big businesses manipulate each other into expanding their interests overseas. And, like many a great rebel, he was overcome by the sheer pressure of the American two-party system.
But, as much as some historians would love to, one should not play William Jennings Bryan as the perfect being; free from political short comings. While often the victims of slander, the Populist Party put out some rather rude political cartoons themselves.
This lends itself readily to the idea of the crushing of rebellions. The young Democrat and Republican parties, so accustomed to a two-party system, easily crushed the last third party challenger. William Jennings Bryan’s very stance was that of rebellion; he wanted free silver to help shrug off debts, he wanted Anti-Imperialism, to encourage the Americans living in America to exploits its resources, rather than have the big government and big businesses manipulate each other into expanding their interests overseas. And, like many a great rebel, he was overcome by the sheer pressure of the American two-party system.
But, as much as some historians would love to, one should not play William Jennings Bryan as the perfect being; free from political short comings. While often the victims of slander, the Populist Party put out some rather rude political cartoons themselves.