“And if thy brother be waxen poor and fallen in decay with thee, then thou shalt relieve him; yea, though he be a stranger or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. Take thou no usury of him or increase; but fear thy God, that thy brother may live with thee.” (Lev. 25: 36-37.) Moses, the inspired law-giver, the great soldier-poet-statesman, who led a semi-barbarous people from the slavery of Egypt and made of them a nation which endured the longest in the world’s history, wrote these words. We also read: “The land shall not be sold forever; for the land is mine [saith the Lord]; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.” (Lev. 25: 23.) Let the Christian world cease bickering over questions of dogma and study again the inspired law of Moses, the law which Christ came to fulfill, and a solution of all the many questions which now vex us will soon be found. Under the Mosaic law, slaves were emancipated, human life was made sacred, debtors were liberated every seven years, inherited property was divided and paternal inheritances were alienated, luxury and extravagance were discouraged, and by forbidding land-monopoly and usury (in the Bible usury and interest are synonymous) disproportionate fortunes and vast accumulations of wealth, which have caused the decline of the world’s great empires and are now threatening the foundations of modern civilization, were made impossible. Chattel slavery no longer exists in any part of the civilized world, imprisonment for debt has been abolished, the right of the people to rule is established, but humanity is still bound in chains of servitude as galling and oppressive as in any period of its history. The rule of kings is passing away, but the autocracy of money and monopoly is seated on the throne and swaying a more imperious scepter. But the people have it in their power to overthrow their oppressors. In this country, at least, we have the ballot. The duty of the hour is to study political economy, so that this weapon may be wielded intelligently and effectively. “Education” must be our watchword. It is only by education that we may hope to gain the three great essentials for perfect liberty and equality: _direct legislation_—_direct money_—_direct taxation_. These will establish forever the sovereignty of the people. [Illustration] II. THE PHILOSOPHY OF MONEY. “The American people must learn the lesson of money or they are lost.” THE word “money” is derived from the Latin _moneta_ (from _moneo_, to warn), meaning “warned” or “admonished.” _Moneta_ was a surname for Juno, because she was believed to have warned the Romans by means of an earthquake to offer sacrifice. In the temple of Juno Moneta coins were made; hence _moneta_, meaning either a mint, or coin, or coined money.