The Van Buren press., 1900-01-27
COINS NEW BOOK.
Willis J. Abbott, Chief of the Demo
cratic National Committees
Literary Bureau, Reviews
"COin on Money, Trusts
ouh I,nnarInlism -
and Imperialism"

| About four years ago a little book
issued modestly without any great
heralding or any of the puffery through
the literary press which is enjoyed by
writer's of romantic fiction or doubtful
verse, so seized upon the minds of the
American people that it became perhaps
the most widely known book of the de
cade and unquestionably the one which
more than all others influenced men in
their political action. "Coin Fin
ancial SCHOOL, was the outgrowth of a
series of articles written by Mr.. W. h.
Harvey for his little paper Coin, and
WAS pushed by the Chicago Inter Ocean
at the time when that paper had not
discovered that in order to be republican
it must necessarily also be the servitor
of the bankers. 1t is hardly necessary
now to recount the tremendous success
of the book or to estimate the share
it had in awakening the people Of the
United States to just comprehension
of the Importance of the money question
In politics.
After four years, during which period
he has at all times been laborlng with
voice and pen and organizing ability to
fulfill the mission of '98, Mr.. Harvey
comes before the people on the eve of
the new presidential campaign with
new book-in the familiar style of his
former one, but treating of the later
though not more important issues which
have sprung up since the time that Mr.
BRYAN was defrauded of his election.
"Coin on Money, Trusts and Imperial
ism treats of at least one issue-im-
perialism which had not raised its
threatening head in 96. During that
struggle, too, the trusts, though already
Offering u certain menace to the we'll
being of the people had not developed
into such startling proportions as they
now present To these issues Coin, in
his new series of lectures, devotes much
of his attention, but the old issue-th the
issue that will arise perennially until
out of the hands a a favored class shall
be taken the priceless privilege of issuing
and controlling the money OF the
people---engages his attention in the
opening chapters of his book. do not
think that Mr. Harvey has ever done
anything 80 we'll as his dissection Of the
privileges enjoyed and the further ones
demanded by the national bankers. In
u clear and simple style, using as here
tofore the dialogue form, he discusses
the demand Of the banking class that 1t
shall be permitted to control the money |
OF the people and shows conclusively by |
figures the authenticity of which can
not be disputed, how enormous are the |
profits they now derive and hope to con-
tinue to draw from their monopoly. The
profit of the dealer in money is the 'un-
earned increment no less certainly |
than is the profit Of the speculator in
land who has contributed nothing to the
productive forces of the nation. Mr..
Harvey demonstrates this, though he
does not use this particular comparison,
aa,, believe that his logic will prove as
irrefutable Ms his language is simple and
direct
To the questions Of trusts and i'm
perialism questions which cannot fail to
be bitterly debated during the campaign
the author has brought n wealth Of
statistical material, re inforced by II
clear and logical comprehension of the
problems they involve, and | think the
strength and value of his discussion Of
these problems is derived largely from
the fact that he approaches them not
altogether from the standpoint of the
cold and insensate politice! economist,
but rather from that Of the man who
puts into his political beliefs and into
his writings that touch of heart, of
human sympathy, which made much Of
the difference between Herbert Spencer
and Henry George | do not believe
that n great book on economics or on
any living and vital social problem can
be written from the dry.as-dust point Of
view. Adam Smith and Mill and
Laurence Laughlin may be necessary
for the progress Of science though in the
case Of the latter somewhat doubt II,
but it is not their type OF writing which
accomplished great things which stirs
the people and which will be remem
bered outside Of academic halls or musty
libraries.
In my opinion this new book Of Mr..
Harvey s--notably better than "Coin 6
Financial School by It's thoroughly
human treatment OF the questions Of the
campaign, deserves and will attain q
popularity and circulation quite com
mensurate with his earlier one. 1t Is,
like that one, cleverly illustrated by
drawings which enforce the teachings
Of the text, and is given certain up-to.
date and living interest by the employ
ment OF the names Of well known men
In the course Of the discussions which
II recounts, II IL book that will be
read by the millions and will be u most
potent weapon In the hands Of the people
for their defense against privileged
classes. WILLIS j. ABBOTT.
Chief Of Literary Bureau, Democratic
National Committee,