In a paragraph, use the passage from William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech to answer the question. Remeber to RAPP! (5 points)
"They complain about the plank which declares against the life tenure in office. They have tried to strain it to mean that which it does not mean. What we oppose in that plank is the life tenure that is being built up in Washington which establishes an office-holding class and excludes from participation in the benefits the humbler members of our society."
Identify Bryan's claim in this passage and cite the reasoning he uses in support of his claim.
Bryan's claim in this passage is that the plank which declares against life tenure in office is being misunderstood. He argues that the plank is not against any form of life tenure, but specifically against the life tenure that is being built up in Washington. Bryan's reasoning for this claim is that such life tenure creates an office-holding class, which in turn excludes the more humble members of society from participating in the benefits that come with holding office. Therefore, he believes that the opposition to life tenure in this context is intended to fight against the perpetuation of an elitist system that hinders social and economic mobility.
In this passage from William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech, Bryan makes the claim that he and his supporters oppose the life tenure in office that is being established in Washington. He argues that this life tenure creates an office-holding class, which excludes the humbler members of society from participating in the benefits. Bryan supports his claim by stating that his opponents have misconstrued their opposition to mean something different. He clarifies that their intention is to address the problem of a privileged class of politicians who hold office for an extended period of time, preventing others from having the same opportunities.
In this passage from William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech, his claim is that the plank declaring against life tenure in office opposes the establishment of an office-holding class and excludes the less privileged members of society from benefiting. He supports his claim by stating that the plank has been misinterpreted and stretched to mean something it does not. By disapproving the life tenure that is being built up in Washington, he argues that it perpetuates a system where certain individuals hold office for an extended period, creating a class of bureaucrats who enjoy the benefits of office while the common people are left out. Bryan's reasoning is based on the idea that such a system is unfair and detrimental to the interests of the less privileged members of society.
