“Thus the landowner, as land gradually depreciated in commercial value from the effects of numerous abandonments of vacant land, was even pleased to have a co-operating community take up and work his land, because he would produce more and much easier as a co-operator than as an owner under a perverted system. Thus gradually every individual became a member of a community. This communistic co-operation concentrated population, so that even with the former increase of population, there is still at present an abundance of first-class land unoccupied for want of population, and any one who would get tired of co-operation can get all the land he wants for nothing and set up over himself and over his followers, if he could get any, any kind of religion or government he wished; but those who have once tasted the advantages of voluntary co-operation and individual freedom can never again be induced to become the dupes of poverty, tyranny and superstition.” “How did your present money or medium of exchange, come into general use?” asked Mrs. Uwins. “Let me explain briefly,” said Mr. Midith. “From the explanation I have given you, you understand how the community originated and developed to its present size and arrangement. You also know how your nations on earth now control and monopolize the issuing of money, and how your business transactions are more and more effected by means of commercial papers instead of coin and currency. “In the beginning, one infant community in buying and selling gave a kind of due-bill to the other. Men, instead of hunting for the precious metals out of which to make money, as was formerly the case with us and as is still the case with you, directed their labor toward the production of food, clothes, shelter and luxuries. “Our money system was thus gradually perfected into the one I have described to you elsewhere. This gradual development is easily traceable. Of course, with money as with everything else, the fittest will eventually survive. More and more business was transacted by means of commercial papers without the use of government-monopolized money. As the commercial business grew more simple and definite, the commercial apartment in our big-houses sprung up and became more perfect. This arrangement and rearrangement continued until every individual has his own money issued by the community on his monthly labor record. Practically, each individual produces wealth, and on this wealth he has his money issued monthly. Under these conditions, money can now be obtained only by productive labor and by voluntary gift, and all productive labor receives all it earns.” “How about your government?” asked Viola. “How did that develop to its present form? Will you please show us the direction of its growth by enumerating some of the transitional steps by which it has reached its present perfection?”