This historic book originally published in 1895 was one of the first of its kind to denounce the corruption of American bankers when it came to corruption, government bribes and especially issues dealing with the Gold Standard, bi-metallism and fiat currency in the United States.For anyone interested in investing in gold and silver and the issues of fiat currency and a corrupt central bank, this book will be an inspiring and educational read. If you want to be prepared for the future economic collapse, you must be educated about economic history and the impact of banker and government corruption and profligate spending!From the original edition:Conscience, humanity and experience are the causes for the writing of this book, to call the attention of the public to the extravagance and corruption existing for many years in our general government, and how the "Favored Few ‘have accumulated millions, while the masses of producers have been pauperized by special laws and class legislation, passed one at a time by the money power tools at our capital (Washington, D. C.) which the writer will quote and anyone can satisfy himself by investigating them and verify the assertion and truth in these matters.For this condition of affairs we are all to blame; while we have been neglecting our duties as citizens, the shrewd Bankers have held high carnival and with their potent influence of money for "corrupt" purposes they have established the gold standard against the wish of the people, who now commence to see it, and the writer hopes that the importance of this book will be understood by the intelligent readers, for whom I have the highest respect, and I know they have not the time to read long books, for which reason I make this a small one (Brevity) as their time is valuable, touching lightly upon the various and most important laws on the subject, and as I attack the monster of the land, the money power (or the interest), the most important question that has agitated the world, and it domains, this free land. It is so deeply radicated that it seems impossible to some people to eradicate it without a war! and to cure such wrongs that keep the masses of the people slaves to King Gold, whom no one could get a square meal out of if he had all the gold that the world possesses.He must go and till the land, that with Labor produces the necessaries of life, and it is the basis of all resources and values; gold and silver, etc. comes from the land, but no land can ever come from gold. You can easily procure gold by having land if you choose to pay the Shylock-owners interest on it. If it was not for the vicious laws that have been passed, gold would not be held so high as money, or medium of exchange. Silver would have held its place as a money metal, which it has been for a long time past.Now I honestly believe in a currency or medium of exchange based on the brain, blood, muscles and land, or the wealth of the whole people of this great land.A paper money, Greenbacks, a full legal tender for all debts, public or private , are issued by the Government direct to the people, according to the necessity and demand. Now, a money with the above backing to it is better than gold and silver, (for it includes both of said metals) for paper money has flourished in the past, and has twice saved this great Nation, to wit, in 1812 and 1861, and ancient history tells us that when past nations have adopted gold as their only money or medium of exchange, (that we must have to facilitate commerce) the Shylock owners of it have become so oppressive and tyrannical , that the people have revolted and destroyed them, and civilization with them. Greece, Persia, Egypt and Rome are examples.