River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-02-20
THE CHANGERS.
Official Declaration Of the Principles Of
the Order.
Action on Memorial from Southern
Members.

w ~FNNADA"A 81 Nv aNP bNoblbA
in st. Louis on Wednesday, adopted
the following declaration of principles,
presented by the Committee on Reso-
lutions
Profoundly impressed with tho truth that
the National Grange " the United States
should doiiontly proclaim TO the world its
general object, we hereby unanimously make
this declaration &. purposes Of the Patrons a
Husbaudry
United by the strong and faithful tic Of acri.
culture, we mutually resolve 10 labor for the
good Of our order, our country and mankind.
2. We heartily endorse the motto: "In es.
sentals unity, ~ non-essentias liberty, ia all
things charity"
3. Weshall endeavor TO advance our cause
By labOrlng 70 accomplish the following OBJ.
iects: To develop better and higher man
hood and womanhood among ourselves: to
enhance the comforts and attractions of hume
and strengthen our attachments to our pur-
suits 10 foster q mutual understanding aud
cooperation TO maintain lnyiUlate our laws,
and TO emulate each other to labor To-
hasten the good time coming TO reduce our
expenses, bdth incidental aud corporate: to
buy less and produce more, in order to make
our farms soli-suppoIting; TO diversity our
crops, aud SOW no more than We can cultivate;
I TO- cOndcnse the weight OF our eXpuas,
/ selling less IN the bushel and more in tbe
I hoOf and fleece 10 svstemize our
work and calculate iuteligently on probable
1 ltler 70 dlscOuntenance the credit system,
tho mortgage system, the fashion system, aud
every systf m tending 20 prOdigality aud
bankruptcy. We propose meeting together,
/ talking together, working together, buying
I together, selling together, and generally
afung together for our mutual protection aud
advancement as occasion may require. We
shah avoid litigation as much as possible Y
| arbitration m the grange, We shall con-
tlnualy strive to secure entire harmony, good
viii and brotherhood among ourselves, aud TO
make our order perpetual. We shall ear
nestly endCayor 10 suppress personal, local,
sectional aud national prejudices all I'M
/ healthy rivalry, and all selfish ambition.
/ Faithful adherence 10 these principles will IN
/ sure our mental, moral social and material
advancement
:. For our business interests we desire to
/ bring producers and consumers, farmers and
manufacturers, into the most direct and
I friendly relations possible. Hence we must
/ dispense with q surplus OF middle men not
tnat we arc unfriendly TO them, but we do not
need teen. Their surplus and their exactions
diminish Uur profits. We wage no aggressive
I warfare against any other interests whatever
Dn the contrary all our acts and all our forts
\ 50 far as business is concerned, are not only
I for the benefit OF producers and consumers
3 huA dtoF lbA III OlutL 4uAtIt6Ls AudL tIY 10
/ bring these two parties into speedy aud
1 economical contact Hence we hold that
/ transportation companies OF every kind are
/ necessary 10 our success; that their inter-
/ csis arc intimately connected with our IN
4 tercst,, and harmonious action Is mutually
advantageous Keeping IN view the first
sentiment IN our declaration Of principles,
that individual happiness depends upon the
general prosperity, We shall, therefore, ad-
yoCate Tor every state the increase In every
practicable way of AL facilities for trans
porting chcaply TO the seaboard. OF between
home producers and consumers of all the d. O.
ducti0us Of our country. We adopt Il as our
! iGed purpose 10 open out the cham Is IN na-
tuIe's great arteries that the lfe.bl0od
commerce may flow freely We are not enc
mics qt railroads, navlgable and irrigating
eanal3 nor ~ CORPORATIONS that will advance
cur Industrial interests, nor OF any laboripg
class. In our noble order theTdls no COM
munism, no agrarlanism. We are opposed 10
eFteh sPtrtt aud me Judgement OF auy corpora
llon and enterprise as tends 10 oppless the
people and rob them Of their lust profits We
are not enemies to capital, but we oppHe-the +
tyranny OF monOpollcs. We long to lee the +
aniaSonism between capital and labor rlmoved
by common conseut ana by an enh dhtened
statcma lsmp worthy of the thirteenth
century We are opposed to excessive sal
aries, nlgh rates of interest, and excessive per
cent. profits In trade. They greatly ncrease
our burdens, and do not bear pioter pro.
portion to the profits OF producers. We de-
SIZE only self protection and the protection Of
every true interest OF our land by letitImate
transactions, legitimate trade aud legitimate
profits We shall advocate the causduf edu-
cation among ourselves aud Tor our children
hy all just means within our power. We "a.
pecialiy advocate tor agricultural and indus
trial college that practical agrienltpe. do
mevtc service, and an the arts winch adorn
the home bo taught III ti II course oi stu iy.
5. We cmphatlcally and sincerely assert
that Oft repeated truth taught in our organic
law, That thc Grange, national, stateor SUD.
ordinate, Is not political or party OgauIza-
ton. No Grange, II true TO ITS obltatious
can discuss political or religious questions
nor call political conventions, nor nminate
Candldltes, nor even disclose their minds m
the meetings. Yet the principles we teach
underlc al true politics, al true statesman.
SHY ANA II properly carried out will tend 10
purify the whole political atmosphere of onr
country tor all seek the greatesti good 10
/ tue greatest number. But We must ALWAYS
bear 1t 10 mind. that no one. by becoming
/ grange member, gives up that inaheuable
right ard dnty which belongs 10 every Amer.
can citizen, TO tabe prCner part
IN the politics OF his country. On the
contrary, o. is night for every member 10 do
all ~ hls power lcgltmatCly to influence Tor
i good the action o. ans political party h
ahlch ut htlpUgs, u rs MS Quty 20 DO all h.
,au lu bus own party 90 put down bribery
corruption and tuckery 20 see that none blf
competent, faithful and houCst men, who Nlll
untintmngly stand by our industrial inter.
csis, src nomin ted for al positions u trust
ana have earned out the principles vhfrh
should ALWAYS chvracterize every grange
member that the office should seek the man.
and not the man the office. We Acknowledge
the broad principle that difference %. opip,6n
IS no crime, and bold that progress toward
truth is made 10y differences Of opinion, While
tie fault lies In the bitterness Of
controversy. We desire proper
equality, equity and fairness protection for
the wyak, restraint upon the strong m short,
Justly distributed burdens aud Justly distr.
hutCd power. These are American ideas. the
very essence Ut American independence. 70
advocate the contrary Is unworthy OF the suns
aud daughters Oi our American Republic We
cherish thC hUhCt that sectiunasm t.. and If
night should lhp dead aud buried With the
Iaet Cur worh Is tor tile present and the
future, la our agricultural htothtrhu I'd AMI
VI purposes we shall recognize no North. no
South no East, NO West, II 4 te-
served by every patron as The light
.ut freeman % affiliate With
uyparty that will best carry out hi, prnei-
p,s, ours being q peculiarly farmers ustltu.
ton, vt cauuot admit an 90 our rauks. Many
atc excluded by the nature ct our organza-
ton, uo, because they are professional men,
90 artists or ldborgrs, but because they have