and more profitable to take advantage of this popular ignorance by reducing the total metallic basis of the currency. Both these schemes produce bad and dangerous money and cause great injustice and loss to the people. Five-cent cotton, fifty-cent wheat, low and diminishing gold reserve, the issuing of Government bonds in time of peace, falling wages and decreased employment, these things are making the people think on the currency question. Now is the time for enlightened discussion to find the principles upon which monetary science. is bottomed, and to establish our currency on the best and most solid, safe, honest, and permanent basis. Believing that joint-metallism conveniently provides this basis, I ask for it the candid consideration of competent critics. STOKES BUILDING, New York. 23 November, 1894. A. P. S. PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. The first of the following Letters on Joint-Metallism appeared in the New York Times February 18, 1894. It was printed also in the New York Tribune on the following day, and in the New York World February 24, 1894. The second Letter on Joint-Metallism appeared in the New York Times March 26, 1894, and in the New York Tribune April 17, 1894. Editorial articles in the New York Evening Post March 30th and April 5th caused the third and fourth Letters on Joint-Metallism to be addressed to that paper. Extracts from these Letters, not always fairly representing them, have appeared in various parts of the country, where among the typographical errors may be noted the word "vetoes" being printed. "votes," ""ratio" printed "ration, nomic" printed "economical," etc. xxi 66 eco Numerous inquiries, some of them from those who have seen only part of the correspondence, and the request of Messrs. G. P. Putnam's Sons have led to the present publication. The fifth Letter on Joint-Metallism was not addressed to any newspaper, as it has to be read in connection with the many facts, figures, and statements given. in the Appendix. In the Appendix, among other matters, it may be seen how the admissions of leading monometallists strongly favor Joint-Metallism. President Cleveland said in his Message March, 29, 1894 : "I hope a way will present itself in the near future for the adjustment of our monetary affairs in such a comprehensive and conservative manner as will afford to silver its proper place in our currency.' The design of these Letters is to point out such a way. STOKES BUILDING, New York April 26, 1894 A. P. S. |