that humanity is likely to have confidence in the champion of their rights. This

introduction completely dominated the audience, and the speech made Mr. Bryan

famous.

 

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Convention: I would be presumptuous indeed to

present myself against the distinguished gentlemen to whom you have listened if

this were a mere measuring of abilities; but this is not a contest between

persons. The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a

righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error. I come to speak to you

in defense of a cause as holy as the cause of liberty--the cause of humanity.

 

Some speakers are able to beget confidence by their very manner, while others

can not.

 

_To secure confidence, be confident._ How can you expect others to accept a

message in which you lack, or seem to lack, faith yourself? Confidence is as

contagious as disease. Napoleon rebuked an officer for using the word

"impossible" in his presence. The speaker who will entertain no idea of defeat

begets in his hearers the idea of his victory. Lady Macbeth was so confident of

success that Macbeth changed his mind about undertaking the assassination.

Columbus was so certain in his mission that Queen Isabella pawned her jewels to

finance his expedition. Assert your message with implicit assurance, and your

own belief will act as so much gunpowder to drive it home.

 

Advertisers have long utilized this principle. "The machine you will eventually