Toward the latter part of Mr. Cleveland’s administration, it became clear that the free silver faction of the Democratic party would control the Democratic Convention, but the Republican Convention assembled first. One of Ohio’s wealthy manufacturers, Marcus A. Hanna, became convinced that the Republican party needed William McKinley for its leader, and he set about bringing this to pass with his own business methods. At the convention, Governor McKinley was nominated on the first ballot, with Garret A. Hobart, of New Jersey, for Vice President. The Republican platform declared for protection.
In the Democratic Convention, events had been more spectacular. Old leaders were superseded by more radical ones, and the West became a factor in politics with William Jennings Bryan making his first appearance. He attended the convention merely as a reporter, and when he seized the opportunity during a long debate to launch his Cross of Gold and Crown of Thorns speech, he electrified the assembly, and in the wild enthusiasm which it aroused, he was nominated. While John R. McLean, of Ohio, had the lead for the Vice Presidency until the fourth ballot, he lost to Sewall, of Maine.
Bryan made a meteoric speech-making dash over the country that played havoc with party allegiance, for many Democrats swung to the support of the Republican candidate, and many Republicans preferred to trail with the following of the silver-tongued orator. From this time on, William Jennings Bryan was a factor to be considered in the politics of the land.
The platform of free silver faction of the Democratic party called for the free coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen to one and turned against the administration of Cleveland.
The silver Republicans also had a convention, endorsing Bryan for President and Thomas E. Watson of Georgia for Vice President.
The gold Democrats nominated John M. Palmer, Union veteran of Illinois, for President and Simeon B. Buckner, a Confederate veteran for Vice President.
The Prohibition party also split on the silver question.
The Republicans made their fight on the money stringency and the tariff.
When the confusion subsided and the electoral votes were counted, they gave the election to McKinley with a vote of 271; Bryan received 176. A Republican majority prevailed in both Houses of Congress, and “free silver” was thus proved not so alluring as a national measure.
Where McKinley went, Mrs. McKinley usually accompanied him, and from the time he was nominated she had little peace of mind. At his home, when the news of his election was read, she was greatly distressed. “Oh, Major, they will kill you, they will kill you!” she exclaimed. He put his arm about her and turned to his guests and, smiling, remarked, “This little woman is always afraid someone is going to harm her husband.” His calm, loving touch reassured her in a measure, but some of her friends have declared that she never really knew peace of mind when he was out of her sight, for they were satisfied she had a premonition of his fate.