Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-02-27
The Changers. Platform.

ciple announced by the national Grange
recently assembled at st. Louis:
Profoundly impressed with the truth
that the national grange of the United
States should definitely proclaim to the
world its general objects, we hereby
unanimously make this declaration of
purposes of the Patrons of Husbandry
1. 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 endorse the motto,
In essentials, unity in non essentials,
liberty; in all things charity" Weshall
endeavor to advance our cause by labor
ing to accomplish the following objects
To develope better and higher man
hood and womanhood among ourselves.
To enhance the comforts and attractions
of our homes and strengthen our attach
ments to our pursuits. To foster mutual
understanding and cooperation. To
maintain, inviolate our laws and to en-
ulate each other in lab,r. To hasten the
good time coming. To reduce our ex-
penses 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 on hoof and in fleece
To systemize our work, and calculate in
diligently on probabilities. To disooun-
tenance the credit system, the mortgage
system, the fashion system, and every
other system tending to prodigality and
bankruptcy.
We propose meeting together, talking
together, working together, buying to-
gether, 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. We shall constantly strive to Sc
cure entire harmony, good will, vital
brotherhood among ourselves, and to
make our order perpetual. We shall
earnestly endeavor to suppress personal,
local, sectional and national prejudices,
all unhealthy rivalry, all selfish ambition.
Faithful adherence to these principles
will insure our mental, moral, social, and
material advancement.
3. For our business interests we de-
sire to bring producers and consumers,
farmers and manufacturers, into the
most direct and friendly relations posi-.
BILE. Hence we must dispense with a
surplus of middle men; not that we are
unfriendly to them, but we do not need
them. Their surplus and their exactions
diminish our profits. We wage no ag-
gressive warfare against any other in.
terests whatever. On the contrary, all
our acts and all our efforts, SO far al
, |
the benefit of the producer and consum
er, but also for all other interests, anc
tend to bring these two parties into
speedy and economical contact. Henc,
we hold that transportation companies o
every kind are necessary to our success
that their interests are intimately con
nected with our interests, and harmoni
Gus action is mutually advantageous
Keeping in view the first sentence in gu,
, declaration of principles of action, tina
individual happiness depends upon gen
: eral prosperity" we shall therefore ad
: vocate for every state the increase il
every practicable way of all facilitie
, for transporting cheaply to the seaboart
, or between home producers and consum
4 ers, all the productions of our country
We adopt it as our fixed purpose t.
open out the channels in natures grea
arteries, that the life-board of commerce,
may flow freely. We are not enemie
of railroads, navigation and irrigatin,
4 canals, nor of any corporation that viii
T advance our industrial interests nor 0
> any laboring classes. In our noble orde
there is no communism, no agrarianism
We are opposed to such spirit and man
: agement of any corporation or enterpris
= as tends to Cypress the people and 70
J them of their just profits. We are nc
% enemies of capital, but we oppose th
IL tyranny Of monopolies. We long to Sc
i the antagonism between capital and Ii
Dor removed by common consent, an
- enlightened craftsmanship worthy of tt
l. nineteenth century. We are opposed
% excessive salaries, high rates of interes
- and exhorbitant profits in trade. The
- greatly increase our burdens, and do n,
bear proportion to the profits of pr
ducers. We desire only self protectio
IL and the protection of every interest
alT lad h., 1ons,ip,o 70 fr,p