The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-03-13
# 2 n #3 EE III
The National Grange.
AUTHORITATIVE DECLARATION OF PRTE-
CEPLEs-ANIMUs AND AIMS OF ri
- THE ORDER.

Gh6 report OF the committee on rGSQll-
tons, presented by Mr.. Wardlow, of
Florida, and adopted it unanimously.
1t is as follows:
that the National Grange of the United
States should definitely present to the
world its general objects, we hereby
make this declaration of the purposes
! of the Patrons of Hnsbandry:
l. United by the strong and faithful
tie of agriculture, we mutually resolve
to labor for the good of our order, our
country and mankind.
2. We heartily indorse the motto,
"In essentials unity, in non-essentials
liberty, in all things charity"
3. We shall endeaver to advance our
cause by laboring to accomplish the
following objects: To develop q better,
higher manhood and womanhood among
ourselves; to enhance the comforts and
attractions of our homes and strengthen
our attachments to our pursuits to fOs-
ter mutual understanding and cO-opera-
ton to maintain i~nviolate u laws
and to emulate each other to labor to
hasten the good time coming; to re-
duce u expenses, both individual and
corporate; to 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; to
condense the weight of our exports,
selling less in the bushel and more@OB
hOOf and in fleece; to Systematlse our
work and calculate intelligently IN the
probabilities to discountenance. the
credit system, the mortgage system, the
fashion system, and every other system
tending to bankruptcy. We propose
meeting together, talking together,
working together, buying together,
selling together, in general acting to-
gether for our mutual protection and
advancement, as the occasion may re-
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 u order perpetual we shall
earnestly endeavor to suppress personal,
local, sectional and national prejudices,
all unhealthy rivalry, all selfish ambi-
ton. Faithful adherence to these prin-
ciples will insure our mental, moral,
and social advancement. ~
4. For our business interests we de-
sire to bring producers and consumers,
farmers and manufacturers, into the
most direct and friendly relations pos
s1ble. Hence we must dispense with a
surplus of middle-men-nOt that we are
unfriendly to them, but we don't need
Them. Their surplus and their exac-
tons diminish our profits. W. wage
no warfare against any other interest
whatever. On the contrary, all our
acts and all our efforts, SO far as busi-
ness 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 focus. We hold that
transportation companies of every kind
are necessary to our success, and they
are intimately connected with III in
terests and are mutually advantageous.
Keeping in view the first sentence in
declaration of principles of action,
that individual happiness depends upon
the general prosperity, we shall there
fore advocate for every state the in
crease in every practical way. of all our
facilities for transportation cheaply to
tn" seabOard, or between home produ-
GERS and consumers, all the productions
of Il country. We adopt it as Our
fixed purpose to open out the channels
to natural great arteries, that the life
blood of commerce may flow freely.
We are, not enemies of railroads, navig-
able canals, nor of any corporations that
will advance our Industrial interests,
nor of any laboring classes. In our
noble order there is no communism, no
We are. opposed to such
support and management of any corpO-
ration or enterprise as tends to cypress
the people and to rob them of their just
We are not enemies to capital,
but we oppose, the tyranny of monO-
We long to see the antagOnisn
between capital and labor removed by
common consent and by an enlightened
craftsmanship worthy of the 10th CEN
fury. We are opposed to excessive
high rates of interest, and an
per cent. of profits in trade.
They greatly increase our burdens and
do not bear a proper proportion to the
profit of producers. We seek only
self-protection and the protection of
every true interest Of our land bylegit-
and legitimate profits, We shall adj
vance the cause of education among
ourselves, and for our children, by all
Just means in our power. We especial
ly advocate for our agricultural and in
dustrial colleges that practical agricul-
Cure, domestic science, and all the arts
which adOrn the home, be embraced in
purse of study. .
Q. We emphatically and sincerity as-
sert the oft repeated truth taught in
our organic law, that the grange, ma
tiOnal, state or subordinate, is not a
Or party organization. No
grange true to it's obligation. can dis
political Or religions questions, nor
call political conventions, nOr nominate
nor even discuss their
merits in meeting. Yet the principles
teach underlie all true politics, all
true statesmaaship, andif properly car
red out will tend to purity the whole
p0litical atmosphere of Our country,
For we seek the greatest good to the
greatest number. But we must also
bear it in mind that no one, by becom-
right and duty which belongs to every
American citizen to take q proper in
5erest in the politics of his country.
IN the contrary, 1t is right for every
member to do ali in his power, legiti-
to influence for good the, action
Of any political party to which he be-
,Ongs. It is his duty to do all he an in
his own party TO put down bribery, cor
and trickery, to see that none
put competent, faithful and honest men,
who will unflinchingly stand by our in
lustTial interests, are nominated for all
positions of trust, and to have carried
put the principles which should always
characterize every grange member, that
;he Office should seek the mar and not
he man the office. We acknowledge
The broad principle that difference of
is no crime, and hold that pro-
yress toward truth is made by differ
9ncesof opinion, while fault lies in the
bitterness of controversy. We desire a
roper equality, equity and fairness,
for the weak, restraint upon