as well as did the muckrakers of the next decade. But, unlike the muck-
rakers, they were not content with facts alone; they pioneered in many
efforts to better conditions. In a sense it was an introduction to a new
century where this work would be carried on and widened. Curiously,
all of this happened in a period during which the national government
was controlled by extremely conservative administrations.

This author is grateful for the help of the two editors of this series,
Henry S. Commager and Richard B. Morris, but particularly he is
indebted to Professor Commager, who assumed the responsibility of
supervising and criticizing this volume. Much credit is also due to
Christopher Lash of Williams College, who contributed a great deal
in suggesting chapter reorganizations in the original text, in emphasiz-
ing certain interpretations, and in giving some lift and spirit to the
book.

HAROLD U. FAULKNER

Northampton, Massachusetts
December 12, 1958

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