Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-02-18
The Grangers' Platform.

Profoundly impressed with the truth tina
the national grange of the United State:
should definitely proclaim to the world it.
general objects. we hereby unanimousl,
make this declaration of purposes of the
Patrons Of Husbandry:
l. United by the strong and faithful tie
of agriculture, we mutually resolve to la
Dor for the good of our order, our country
and mankind
2. We heartily endorse the motto, In
essentials. unity in non-essentials, liberty
in all things charity" We shall endeavor
to advance our cause by laboring to &C
complish the following objects:
To develop a better and higher manhood and
womanhOod among ourselves. To enhance the
comic Is ami attractions ofour homes and strength.
en- our attachments to our pursuits. To foster
tual understanding and corporation. To NH In ain
inviolate our laws and t. emulate each other in
labor. To hasten the good time coming 10 reduce
our expenses. both individual and corporate. To
buy less and produce more in order to make our
| farms self sustaining. To diversity crops and
gro no more than we can cultivate. ro condense
the weight of our ports, setting less in the busel
and more on hoof AMI in fleece. To systematic
our work. and calculate inteligently p"obabili-
ties. To circumference the credit system the
mortgage system, the fashion system, and every
other system tending to prodisality and btnk
ruptcy.
We propose meeting together, talking
SOoSeANi, "Oi ooSCthCi, puy W.
gether, selling together, and in general
acting together for our mutual protection
and advancement us occasion may require
We shall avoid litigation as much as pos
sible by arbitration in the grange We
shall constantly strive to secure entire har-
mony, goodwill, vital brotherhood among
ourselves. and to make our order perpetu-
al. We shall earnestly endeavor to sup
press personal, local, sectional and nation
al preiudices. all unhealthy rivalry, all sell
fish ambition. Faithful adherence 10 these
principles will insure our mental, moral
social, and material advancement
3. For our business interests we desire
to bring producers and consumers, farmers
and manufacturers, into the most direct
and friendly relations possible, Hence we
must dispense with Il surplus of middle
men; not that we are unfrienlly 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 CON
| trary, all our acts AMI all or efforts. so
far rs Business is concerned, are not only
for the benefit of the producer and cons l.
mer, but also for all other interests, an
tend to bring these two parties into spec "
and economical contact. Hence we hold
thit transportation companies of every
klnt are necessary to oar success; tina,
their interests are intm ltely connecte
with our Interests, an | II urn DniOuS action
Is mu ually advantageous. Keeping in
view the list sentence in or declaration
of principles of ac,ioa, thu "in1ivi lull
happneSs depends upon general prospect
ty," we sh I'll therefore advocate for every
STATE the Increase in every practicable WAY
Of all facilities for transporting cheaply to
,lle setbo MI. OF between home producers
AMI consum rs, all the productions of our
country. We adopt it as our fixed ptr-
pose to open ont the chlnnels in natures
great arteries that the blood of com
merce may flow freely. We are not enc
mics of railroads, navigation and irrigat-
ing canals, nor of any corporation tina
will advance orr industrial interests nor
of any liboring CLASSES. In II noble or
der there is no communism, no agrtrian-
ism. We are opposed to such spirit and
management of any corporation or enter
prise as tends to Cypress the people and
rob them of their just profits. We are not
enemies of capital, but we oppose the tyr
amy of monopolies. We long to see the
antagOniSm between capital and labor re-
moved by common consent, and by enlight-
ened craftsmanship worthy of the nine
teen h century. We are opposed to ex-
cessive salaries, high rates of interest. and
exorbitant profits in trade. They greatly
increase our burdens, and do not bear a
proper proportion to the profits of produc-
ers. We desire only selfprotection. and
the protection of every interest of our land
by legitimate transactions, legitimate
trade, and Legitimate profits.
+. We shall advance the cause of elu- /
cation among ourselves and for our chill /
dren by all just means within our power |
We especially advocate for our agricul- |
tural and industrial colleges that practical |
agriculture, domestic science. and all the |
arts which adorn the home he taught in
their courses of study.
D. We especially and sincerely assert |
the oft-repeated truth taught in our organ
lie law that the grange national. state or
subordinate, is not political party organ
ization. No grange, if true to its obliga-
tions, can discuss political or religious |
questions, nor call political conventions,
nor nominate candidates, not even discuss
their merits in the meetings Yet the
principles we teach underie all true po-
litics, all true craftsmanship and if pro-
perly carried out will tend to purify the
W poiitiCtit stiliiOS vi our country
For we seek the greatest good to the great
est number, but we must always bear in
mind that no one by becoming a Patron
of Husbandry gives up that inalienable
right and duty which belongs to every
American citizen. to take a proper interest
in the politics of his country. On the con-
trary, it is right for every member to do
all in his power legitimately to influence
fnl. GOOD the action Of ,,n1i+ico1
to which he belongs. 1t is his duty to do
all he can in his own party to put down
bribery, corruption and trickery; to see
that none but competent. faithful and hon
est men. who will unhinchingly stand by
our industrial interests, are nominated for
all positions. 1t should always character
ize every Patron of llusbandry that the
office should seek the nun and not the
man the office. We acknowledge the
broad principle, that difference of opinion
is no crime, an hold that progress toward
truth is mule by difference of opinion.
while the fault lies in bitterness of contro-
versy. We desire II proper equality, equi-
ty and fairness, protection for the weak,
restraint upon the. strong in short, Justly
distributed burdens and justly distributed
power. These are American ideas, the
very essence of American Independence
and to advocate the contrary is unworthy
of the sons and daughters of I'm American
republic. We cherish the belief that sec
ti"nlli>m is. and of right shoull be, dead
and buried with the past. Oar work is fol
the present AMI the future. In or agri
cultural brotherhood and its purposes we
shall recognize no North. no South, n
East, no West. 1t is reserved by every
Patron. IT'S the right of !. freem IN, to affili
lte with any party that will best carry on
his principles.
6. Ours being peculiarly farmers in
stitution. we cannot admtall to our ranks.
Many are excluded by the nature of our
not because they are profes-
sional men, or artisans. or laborers, bu.
because they have not a sufficiently direct
interest in tilling OF pasturing the soil. Or
may have some interest in conflict with
our purpose. But we appeal to all good
citizens for their cordial cooperation to