What is the relationship between inflation/deflation and the cross of gold speech?

The relationship between inflation/deflation with William Jennings Bryan's Cross Gold Speech is about how the country's economy had to accept the imposition of gold as the only way to validate American money; which Bryan felt was a punishment (making a clear allusion to the crucifixion and crown of thorns) the fact that only gold was proof of the real value of money and hence the economic depressions could originate. His solution to the economic depression he had started since 1893 was to mint "easy money" silver coins, with very little gold (a ratio of 16 to 1), unlimited, to end the depression.