Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-02-21
THE GRANGER PLATFORM.

;ects of the organization. candid examina-
ton of it will result 10 finding in it but little to
disapprove. In the main the principles will
meet with appreciation. There is broad ana
generous spirit running through the WHOLE
quite in contrast with the narrow ideas By which
the Changers are enormously represented in
some quarters to be guided. 1t has been sup
posed that their object is mainly political,
but the platform distinctly disclaims any such
purpose; also that their doctrines tend to
agrarianism and communism, bat this Is like
wise denied The leading principle is the
of the agricultural population, by fair and
legitimate methods, not by measures that are
at war with justice or against the rights OF
society or humanity. That our readers may
Judge for themselves of the principles Of the
order we copy the following from the plat
form, giving its substance.
We shall endeayor to advance our cause
hy laboring to accomplish the following oh
iects To develop better and higher man
hood and womanhood among ourselves; to
enhance the comforts and attractions OF our
homes, and strengthen our attachments to
our pursuits to foster mutual understanding
and cooperation; to maintain inviolate our
laws; to stimulate each other to hasten the
good time coming; to reduce cur expenses
both individual and cooperative; 10 buy less
and produce more, in order TO make our
farms self-sustaining; to diversity our crops,
and crop no more than we can cultivate; 10
condense the weight of our exports. selling
less in the bushel and more on hoof and in
fleece; to systimatize onr work and calculate
intelligently on probabilities; TO discounte-
nance the credit system, the mortgage sys-
TEN, the fashion system, and every other sys
tenn tending to prodigality and bankruptcy
we propose meeting together, talking togeth-
er, working together, buying together, selling
together, and in general acting together for
our mutual protection and the advancement
the association may require; we shall avoid
litigation as much as possible by arbitration
in the grange; we shall constantly strive to
secure entire harmony, good will, and vital
brotherhood among ourselves, and to make
our order perpetual; we shall earnestly en-
deavor to suppress personal, local, sectional
and national prejudices, ali unhealthy rivalry,
and all selfish ambition. Faithful adherence
to these principles will insure our mental,
moral, social and material advancement.
Our business interests. We desire to bring
producers and consumers, farmers and man
ufacturers, into the most direct and friendly
relations possible. Hence we must dispense
with surplus of middle that we are
unfriendly to them, but we DO not need them.
Their surplus and their exactions diminish
our profits. We wage no aggressive warfare
against any other interests whatever. On the
contrary. all our acts aud all our efforts, so
far as business is concerned, are not only for
the benefit of producers and consumers, but
also for all other interests that tend to bring
these two parties into speedy and economical
contact. Hence we hold that transportation
companies OF every kind are necessary to our
success; that their interests are intimately
connected with our interests, and harmonious
action is mutually advantageous. Keeping in
view the first sentence in our declaration Of
principles of action, that individual happiness
depends upon general prosperity, we shall
therefore advocate for every State the in
crease in every practicable way Of all iacili-
ties for transporting cheaply to the sea-board
or between home producers ard consumers,
all productions of our country. We adop. ii
as our fixed purpose to open out the channels
in natures great arteries that the life blood CT
commerce may flow freely We are not
enemies Of railroads, navigable and irrigating
canals, nor of any corporations that will adj
vance our indu strial interests, nor of any la
boring classes. In our oble norder there is
no communism and no agrarianism. We are
opposed to such spirit and management OF
any corporation or enterprise as tends to OPP
press the people and rob them of their just
profits. We are not enemies to capital, bat
we oppose the tyranny of Inonopolies. We
long to see antagoDsm between capital and
labor removed by common consent, and by an
enlightened craftsmanship worthy of the nine
teenth century. We are opposed to excessive
salaries, high rates Of interest, and exorbitant
percentage profits in trade, as they greatly in
crease our burdens, and do not bear u proper
proportion to the profits of the producers. We
desire only self-protection, and the protection
of every true interest offered by legitimate
transactions, legitimate trade, and legitimate
profits. We shall advance the cause of edu-
cation among ourselves, and for our children,
by all Just means wi;hia our power. We es-
pecially advocate Tor our agricultural and in
dustrial colleges, that practical agriculture,
domestic science, and all the arts which adoru
the home, be taught in their courses o; study
We emphs.ically and sincerely assert the
oft-repeated truth taught IN our cr. VIC law,
that the grange, national, State, or subordi-
nate, is not a political or party organization.
No grange, il true to its obligations, can die.
cuss political or religious questions. nor call
political conventions, nor nominate candi-
dates, nor even discuss their merits in It's
meetings; yet the principles we teach under.
lie all true politics, all true stalesmenship,
and if properly carried cut will tend TO curly
the whole political atmosphere of our coun-
try; for we seek the greatest good to the
greatest number. But we must always bean
it in mind that no one by becoming grange
member gives up that iEalienahle right ant
duty which belongs TO every American either
TO take a proper interest in the politics OF hi
country. On the contrary, it is right for ever.
member TO do all in his power legitimately t
influence for good the action Of any poii,ca
party to which he belongs it is his duty TO d
all he can in his own party to put down brib
cry, corruption and iriekery, 10 see that nom
but competent, faithful and honest men, VIII
will urHinchingly stand by cur Industrial in
terests. are nominated for all positions 0
trust, and to have carried out the principle
which should always characterize ever,
grange member, that the Office should seek tn
man, and not the man the Office. We &C
knowledge the broad principle that diilerenc
OF opinion is not crime, and hold that progress