The Dangers of a Dangerous Monopoly

I am fairly convinced that any attempt now to reinstate the gold standard by international agreement would break down within a short time. Money is certainly too dangerous an instrument to leave to the fortuitous expediency of politicians, or it seems, economists. All history contradicts the belief that governments have given us a safer money than we would have had without their claiming an exclusive right to issue it. But why should we not let people choose freely what money they want to use? I doubt whether it has ever done any good except to the rulers and their favorites.