Excerpt from The Platform, Vol. 1 of 2: Its Rise and Progress 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. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.

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