The interior journal., 1874-02-20
BANDED FARM MERs.
Thoy Issue Q Manifesto to the
American People.
a Nsn-rsiisseai Orsies for the Elevation
OF man and the improvement
OF Woman.
Truths for Farmers.

luton presented by Watdlow, Of Flori
da, and adopted it unanimously. It i,
as follows:
Profoundly impressed With the truth
that the National Grange Of the United
States should definitely proclaim TO tn,
world its general objects, we hereby
unanimously make this declaration OF
the purposes of the patrons Of Husband
ry:
"First-United by the strong and
faithful tn of agriculture, we mentally
resolve TO labor for the good Of the or
der, our country and mankind.
"second-we heartily endorse the
motto, in essentials unity in non>es'
sentials, liberty; in all things, charity.
"Third-We shall endeavor to ad
vance our cause by laboring to accom-.
plish the following objects
"a developed ana higher manhood
and womanhood among ourselves.
"To advance the comforts and attrac-
tions Of our homes, aud to strengthen
our attachment to our pursuits.
"To foster mutual understanding and
cooperation.
"To maintain inviolable our laws, and
to stimulate each other to labor to hasten
the good time coming.
"To reduce our expenses, both indiyid-
ual and corporate; to buy less and pro-
\duce more, in order to make our farms
gselfsustaining.
ITO diversity our crops and crop no
more than we can cultivate.
ITO condense the weights Of our ex-
ports, selling less in the bushel and more
on the hoof and in fleece.
"To systematic our work, and calcu-
late intclligen,ly on ilnprobabilties.
ITO discontinuance of the credit sys-
TEN, and, mortgage system. and every
other system tending to prodigality and
bankruptcy.
1--WE propose meeting together, talk
ing together, working together, buying
togeihcr.selling together. and in general
acting together for our mutual protec-
ton and advancement, as occasion may
require.
"We shall avoid litigation as much as
possible, by arbitration in the Grange.
1--WE shall constantly to secure entire
harmony and good will, and vital broth
erhood among ourselves, and to make
our order perpetual.
I'VE shall earnestly endeavor TO sup
press pres, personal, local, sectional,
and national prcjudices, all unhealthy
rivalry, and all selfish ambition.
Faithful adherence to these princi-
Piles will insure our mental, moral, So
cial, and material advancement.
"Fourth-For our business interests,
we desire to bring producers and consum-
ers, farmers and manufacturers, into the
most direct and friendly relations posi-
BILE. Hence we must dispense with the
surplus of middlemen, mot that We are more
unfrieudly to them, hut do not need them.
Their surplus and their exertions dimin-
ish our profits.
eve wage no aggressive warfare
against any other interests 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 consumers, but also for all other in-
terests that tend to bring these two par
ties into speedy and economical contact.
"lience, We hold that transportation
companies Of every kind are necessary to
our success, aud that their interests are
intimately connected with our interests;
and harmonius action is mutually ad-
tageous.
"Keeping in view the first sentence in
our declaration of principles of action,
that individual happiness depends upon
the general prosperity, we shall therefore
advocate for every State the increase in
practicable way of iacilitie. of transport
ing cheaply to the seaboard, or between
home producers and consumers, all the
productions of our country.
ave adopt it as our fixed purpose to
open out the channels in natures great
arteries. that the liie-blood of commerce
may flow freely. We are not the ene-
mics Of railroads, nor of navigable or ir-
rigating canals, nor of any corporation
that will advance our industrial interests,
nor of any of the laboring classes.
"In our noble order there is no COM
munism, no aggrarianism.
ave areopposed to such spirit and
management of any corporation or en-
terprise as tends to oppress the people,
and rob them Of their just profits.
1--WE are notenemies to capital, but We
oppose the tyranny of monopolies. We
long To see the antagonism between capi-
tai aid labor removed by common con-
sent and by an enlightened statesman
ship worthy of the 18th century.
1--WE are opposed to excessive salaries,
to high rates OF interest, and exhorbitant
per cent. profits ia trade. They greatly
increase our burdens, and do not bear a
proper proportion to the profits of the
producers. We desire only selEprotec-
tion and the protection of every true in
tara-t Of a,,r lanl h., la,,,t,n,as sransao