The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-07
PLATFORM OF THE CHANGERS.

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.
/. 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.
2. We heartily endorse the motto: "In
essentials, Unity non-essentials, Liberty /;
in all things, Charity.
3. We shall endeavor TO advance our
cause by laboring to accomplish the follow
ing objects:
To develop a better and higher manhood
and w~omanhood 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 i~nviolate our laws, and to
emulate each other in labor to hasten the
good time coming.
To reduce our expenses both individual
and corporate. p
To 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 hoof
and in fleece.
To systematic our work and calculate
intelligently IN 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.
gether, 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 endeavor to suppress
personal, local, sectional and national
p~rejudices, all unhealthy rivalry, all selfish
ambition.
Faithful adherence to these principles
will insure our mental, moral social and
material advancement.
4. For our business interests. we desire
to bring producers and consum ers, farmers
and manufacturers into most direct and
friendly relations possible. Hence we must
dispense with a surplus of middlemen, not
that We are unfriendly to them, but we do
not need them.
Their surplus and their exactions dimin-
ish our profits.
We wage no aggressive warfare against
any other interests whatever. On the con-
trary, all our acts and all our efforts, so far
as business is concerned, are not only for
the benefit of the producer and consumer,
but also for all other interests that tend to
bring these two parties into speedy and
economical contact. Hence we hold that
transportation companies of every kind are
necessary to our success. that their interests
are intimately connected with our interests,
and harmonious action is mutually advan-
tageous. Keeping in view the first sentence
in our declaration of principles of action
that individual happiness depends upon
general prosperity"
We shall, therefore, advocate for every
4. state the increase in every practicable way,
of all facilities for transporting cheaply to
the seaboard, or between home producers
and consumers, all the productions of our
country. We adopt it as our fixed purpose
to s'open out the channels in natures great
arteries that the life.blood of commerce
may flow freely
We are not enemies of railroads, naviga-
BILE and irrigating canals, nor any corpo-
rations that will advance our industrial in
t~erests, nor of any laboriDg classes.
In our noble order there is no commun-
ism, no a~grarianism.
We are opposed to such spirit and mar
agement of any corporation or enterprise,
as tends to Cypress the people and rob
them of their just profits.
We are not enemies to capital, but we
oppose the tyranny of m~onopolies.
We long to see the antagonism between
capital and labor removed by common con-
worthy Of the nineteenth century.
We are opposed to excessive salaries,
high rates of interest, and exorbitant per
crease our burdens and do not bear a pro-
We desire only self.protection, and the
tTOttCtiOH VI cfcIy IuS iutCiCoe VI Oul
land by legitimate transactions. legitimate
trade and legitimate profits.
5. We shall advance the cause of educa-
ton among ourselves and for our children
by all just means within our power. We
especially advocate for our agricultural and
industrial colleges, that practical agricul-
ture, domestic science, and all the arts
which adorn the home, be taught in their
courses of study.
G. We emphatically and sincerely assert
the oft repeated truth taught in our organic
law, that the Grange, National, State or
Subordinate, is not a political or party or
ganization. No Grange, if true to its obi
cations, can discuss political or religious
questions, nor call political conventions,
nor nominate candidates, nor even discuss
their merits in its meetings.
Yet the principles we teach underlie all
true politics, all true craftsmanship, and, if
properly carried out, will tend to purify
the whole political atmosphere of our coun-
try.
For we seek the greatest good to the
greatest number. But we must always
bear it in mind that no one by becoming a
Grange member gives up that inalienable
right and duty which belongs to every
American citizen, to take a proper interest
in the politics of his country.