1444.29 TYPOGRAPHY BY J. S. CUSHING & Co., BOSTON, U.S.A. t PREFACE IN presenting this work to the public, there is but one plea which I would urge in extenuation of some of the comments which may be made on it-namely, that it is the first history of the Platform which has ever been written; and just as there are special difficulties to be surmounted in constructing a new road in an unexplored country, so there are special difficulties in writing a history of a subject hitherto not treated historically. In putting forward this plea I do not, however, in any way wish to deprecate criticism or discussion on the conclusions set forth. Rather do I invite them; for, even limiting the matter to our own country, it is manifestly desirable that the position of so great a political institution as the Platform should be thoroughly discussed and defined. But the subject has a further interest. "The Platform" is an attempt to graft a system of democratic government on the ancient constitution of this kingdom -or, in other words, is an attempt at a solution of the great problem of popular government which has in recent times come into such commanding prominence. V |