X PREFACE 



great problem we are studying, how the producing 

 classes are being enslaved by the financial classes by 

 the manipulation of the currency, the student should 

 read " The Law of Civilization and Decay," by Brooks 

 Adams (1895) ; and for the coming views he should 

 read " Social Evolution," by Benjamin Kidd. 



For a most exhaustive and temperately expressed 

 resume of the pregnant questions raised by scientific 

 investigation, see " The Creed of Science," by William 

 Graham. To nearly every question raised, this book 

 gives a reply. 



A theory of our life is absolutely necessary. Religions 

 are generally attempts to frame such a theory. Science 

 has shown that such theories have hitherto not been 

 true. 



This work comes before the world in the year of 

 the Jubilee of the reign of our esteemed Queen. 

 It has been thought desirable to celebrate the event 

 by some great act of benevolence a national contri- 

 bution for the further support of institutions for 

 the mitigation of human suffering. This is altruism. 

 The practical purport of this book is the suppression 

 and prevention of the existence of human suffering, 

 so that such institutions may not be required to the 

 present extent. This also is altruism. Which is the 

 higher altruism time will show. This book, then, 

 is the author's contribution to the altruism which 

 is to commemorate the Jubilee of our beloved Queen 

 Victoria. 



