The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-12
PLATFORM OF THE GRANGERs.

The National Grange have adopted
and published an admirable declaration of
principles, as the foundations and platform
of the order, which exhibits its aims and
operations, as follows:
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.
l. United by the strong and faithful tie
of Agriculture, we mutually resolve to
labor for the good Of our Order, our coun-
try and mankind.
Q. We heartily endorse the motto: "1n
essentials, Unity; non-essentials, Liberty
in all things, Charity.
"a 3. We shall endeavor to advance our
cause by laboring to accomplish the follow
ing objects
TO develop better and higher manhood
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 CO.
operation.
To maintain lnviolate our laws, and TO
emulate each other in labor to hasten the
good time coming.
To reduce our expenses both individual
and corporate.
70 buy less and produce more, in order
to make our farms self-sustaining.
10 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 hoot
and in fleece.
To systematize our work and calculate
intellgently on probabilities.
To discountenance 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-
getber, selling together, and in general,
acting together for our mutual protection
and advancement, as occasion may require.
We shall avoid litigation as much as pos
sible. by arbitration IN the Grange.
We Shall constantly strive to secure
entire harmony, good will, vital brother
hood among ourselves, and to make our
order perpetual.
We shall earnestly endeayor to suppress
personal, local, sectional and natlona
prejudices, all unhealthy rivalry, all selfish
ambition.
Faithful adherence to these principles
will insure our mental, moral social anc
material advancement.
4. For our business interests.we desir
to bring producers and consumers, farmer
and manufacturers into most direct AM
friendly relations possible. Hence we mus
dispense with surplus of middlemen, no
that we are unfriendly to them, but we d
not need them.
Their surplus and their exactons dimir
ish our profits.
We wage no aggressive warfare agalns
any other interests whatever. On the cor
trary, all our acts and all our efforts, so ia
as business is concerned, are not only 1c
the benefit of the producer and consume
but also for all other interests that tend
bring these two parties into speedy ar
economical contact. Hence we hold tn
transportation companies of every kind al
necessary to our success. that their interes
are intimately connected with our interest
and harmonious action is mutually adva
tageous. Keeping in view the first senten
in our declaration of principles of acti'
that "Iudividual happiness depends up'
general prosperity"
We SHALL therefore, advocate for eve
state the increase in every practicable wa
of all facilities for transporting cheaply
the seaboard, or between home produce
and consumers, all the productions of o
country We adopt it as our fixed purpc
to 'sopen out the channels in nature'sgr'
arteries that the life-blood Of CONNER
may flow freely" so
We are not enemies of railroads, navil
BILE and irrigatmg canals, nor any.corl