subs. (colloquial).—Formerly a plan, design, or model: now a declaration of principles or doctrines (chiefly religious and political) governing organised public action, each section or paragraph of which is called a PLANK. Also, as verb. = to draft or publish such a declaration of principles or doctrines. [See the earlier quots. for an inkling of the modern usage.]
1555. FOXE, Acts and Monuments, vi. 25. If my lord of St. David’s, or such others, have their head encumbered with any new PLATFORM. Ibid., 592. The bishop had spent all his powder in casting such a PLATFORM to build his policy on as he thought should stand for ever and a day.
1605. BACON, Advancement of Learning, ii. 355. The wisdom of a lawmaker consisteth not only in a PLATFORM of justice, but in the application thereof.
1641–2. MILTON, The Reason of Church Government, i. Some … do not … grant that church discipline is PLATFORMED in the Bible.
d. 1732. ATTERBURY, Sermons, II. xiii. Every little society … imposed the PLATFORM of their doctrine, discipline, and worship as divine.
1848. New York Herald, 6 May. The Whigs, whether on the Lexington PLATFORM, or some other non-committal PLATFORM, will be and must be at once known as the party that opposed their country in her just and generous war.
d. 1865. LINCOLN [in H. J. RAYMOND, The Life and Public Services of Abraham Lincoln, p. 86]. In the Chicago PLATFORM there is a PLANK on this subject.
d. 1878. S. BOWLES [in G. S. MERRIAM, The Life and Times of Samuel Bowles, i. 291]. We want two PLANKS;—non-extension of slavery, and state reform.
1888. Louisville Courier Journal, Feb. Mr. Cleveland will be re-nominated by acclamation. His message will be his PLATFORM.
