"In an article in the "American Journal of Politics" for July,
1893, I gave a brief statement of the conclusions I had
reached in an attempt to analyze the requirements of a
perfect money.
The limits of a magazine article prevented a full discussion
of the subject; many points were left untouched, and all
quotations from the works of other writers, in support of
the brief arguments given, were of necessity omitted.
As the course of events since the article referred to was written
has more fully confirmed the conclusions stated therein,
a desire to give the subject ampler treatment, which its
importance seems to demand, has led to the writing of this
little work. "
From The Preface