The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-02-19
WHOLE No. 2s6.
PATRONS OF HUsBANDRY-


i = -
of Hnsbandry in session at st. Louis
on the lIth inst, adopted the follow
ing declaration of principles:
Profoundly Impressed with tn
truth, that the National Grange of thl
United States should proclaim to tn
world its objects, we hereby unani
mously make this declaration of pur
poses of the Patrons of Hnsbandry
/. United by the strong and faith
ful tie OF agriculture. we mutually re
solve to labor for the good Of our Or
der, our country and mankind.
2. We heartily indoFse the motto
aIn ersentisls, Unity in Non-essen.
tialss Liberty in all things, Charity. +
3. We shall endeavor to advance
i our cause by laboring to accomplish
tie following objects To develop. q
better and higher manhood and Wo-
manhood among ;0urselvess TO ed
vance the comforts and attractions oi
our homes, and strengtheE eur attach
ments TO our pursuits, to f0ster mutu-
I al understanding and cooperation; TO
maintain inEinlato our laws, and TO
emulate each other 10 labor TO hasten
i the good time coming to reduce our
1 "a ABC4GGog OOe4 AAAAAAH &A0oA oaANA OOA
rate to buy less and produce more in
order to make our farms self-snstain-
ing TO diversity our, chops, and crop
no more than me can cultivate: to
lcondense the weight Of our exports,
selling less, in the bnshel and more on
the hoof and ia fleece: TO eystematize
our work, and calcHlate inteliigenfly
on probabiI titles = to diEeOHn tenance
/ - s,kx
tenn the fashion system and every
other system tending to prodigality
and bankruptcy. We propose meet
/ ing together, talking together, work
ing togetheEs baying together. selling
together, and in general acting togeth-
er for our mutual protection and adj
vancement as occasion may require.
We shall avoid litigation as much as
possible by arbitrati0n. Inthe Grange
we shall ceastsntly strive 70 secure
entire harmony, good will and vital
brotherhood alnong ourselves and to
make our Order perpetual we shall
earnestly laher 10 suppress personal,
local, aectionaf and material preiudice.
all unhealthy rivalry, and all selfish
ambition. Faithful adherence T o.
these principles viii insure our men-
tai, m0ral,social aud material advance
ment. .se
4. For our bnsiness Interests we de-
sire to bring producers and consum-
ers, farmers and mechanics, into the
most friendly relations possible thence
we must dispence with 3 surplus of
middle-men --not that we are unfriendr
Iy to them, but we do not need them !;
their surplus and their exactions di-
miaish cur profits. We wage no ae-
sressiEe warfare against any other in
terests whatever; On the contrary,
all our acts and all our efforts, so far
as business is concerned, are not only
for the benefit of producers and con-
sumers, but also for all other inter-
ests chat tend to bring these two. par
ties into speedy and economical con-
tact. Hence we hold that Transports
-tion companies of every kind are nee
essaHy TO our success that their
interests are intimately connected
with our interests, and harmonious
action is mutually advantageous
keeping in view the first sentence of
our declaration of principles of action J:
that individual Happiness depends up
on general p. p.osperitY. We shall,
therefore. advocate for every State the
Increase in all practicable was of all
facilities for Transporting cheaply to-
the seaboard, or between home pro-
dueers and the consumers of all the
productions of our country. We
adopt It as our fixed purpose 10 open
out the ch2nuelsin Natures great ar
eeries, that the lifc-bloed ofcommerce
may flow freely. We are not enemies
of railroads, navigable and irrigating
canals, nor of any corporation that
will advance our industrial interests,
nor of any laborlng CLASSES. In our
noble Order there is no Communism,
no agrairianism. We are opposed to
such spirit and management of any
corporation or enterprise as tends to-
oppress the people and reb them of
their just profits. We are not ene-
mics to capital, but we oppose the
tyranny Of monopolies. We long to-
see antagonisn1 between capital and
labor removed by commOn consent,
and by an enlightened stafesnanship
worthy of the nineteenth century,
We are opposed 10 excessive salaries,
high rates of interest aud exorbitant
per cent, profits in trade; They great
ly increase cur burdens aud do not
bear q proper proportion to the profit
of producers, We desire only self
projection aud the protection of every
true interest of our land by legitimate
transactions, Legitimate trade and
legitimate proflts, We shall advance
the canse of education among our
selves and for onr children by all just
means within our power. We espec-
tally advocate for our agricultural and
industrial colleges that practical agri-
culture, domestic seience, and all the
arts which ad0rn the home be taught
in their courses OF study.
3. We emphatically and sincerely
assert the oft-repeated truth taught in
the organic law; that the Grange, Ma
fionaI, State or Subof dinata, is not
political or party Organization. No
Grange, IL true to its obligation, can
discuss political or reiigioasqnestions
nor call political conventions, nor
nominate candidates, nor even discuss
their merits in its meetings. Yet the
principles we teach underlfe all true
politics, all true statesman ship, and If
properly carried out will tend TO pur-
ify the whole Political atmosphere of
our country, for we seek the greatest
good to the greatest number; but we
must always bear in mind that no one
by becoming Grange member, gives
mp that inalienable right and duty
which belongs to every American
citizen, 10 take q proper interest in
the politics of his country. On the
contrary, il is proper for every mem
ber to do all In his power, legitimately
to influence for good the action of any
political party TO which he belonga.--l
It is his duty to do all he can in his
own party TO put down bribery, cor
ruption and trickery; to see that none
but competent, faithful and honest
men, who will unfiinchingly stand by
our industrial interests, are nomina-
ted for all positions OF trust, and to
have carried out the principles which
should always oharacterize every
Grange member that the office should
seek the man and not the man the Of
fee. We acknowledge the broad
principle that difference of opinion ls
no crime, and hold that progress