The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-16
NATIONALGRANGE OF THE PATRONS
OF HUsBANDRY.
seventh Annual Session.
Correspondence of the State Journal.]
ST. LOUIS. February IL, 1874.

The National Grange has progressed with
considerable harmony, and have done some
important business among other matters
il has measures to adopt more liberal
prir ciple of representation in the State and
National Oranges, by allowing the election
of more representatives than masters to SIT
in those bodies.
The National Grange also, to-day, adopted
and nublished 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: 'ln
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:
10 develop better and higher manhood
and womauhood 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 lnvolate our laws, and to
emulate each other in labor to hasten the
good time coming.
TO reduce our expenses both individual
and corporate.
10 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 on probabilities.
To dscountenance 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
aud 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 national
prejudices, 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 consumers, farmers
and manufacturers into most direct and
friendly relations possible. Hence we must
dispense with surplus Of middemen, not
that we are unfriendly to them, but we do
not need them.
Their surplus and their exactions dimn-
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
state the increase in every practicable way,
of all facilities for transporting cheaplY tc
IL Inf,x
and consumers, all the productions of oul
country. We adopt it as our fixed purpose
to ''open out the channels in natures great
may flow freely"
We are not enemies Of railroads, naviga.
bic and irrigating canals, nor any corpo-
rations that will advance our industrial in
terests, nor of any laboring classes.
In our noble order there is no commun.
ism, no agrarianism.
We are opposed to such spirit and man.
agement of any corporation or enterprise,
them of their just profits.
We are not enemies to capital, but we
oppose the tyranny of monopolies.
We long to see the antagonism between
capital and labor removed by common con-
sent, and by an enlightened craftsmanship
worthy Of the nineteenth century.
We are opposed to excessive salaries
high rates of interest, and exorbitant per
cent. profits in trade. They greatly in
crease our burdens and do not bear pro-
per proportion to the profits of producers.
We desire only self protection, and the
protection of every true interest of our
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 political or party or
ganization. No Grange, if true to its obli-
cations, can discuss political for 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
Il. IL. .al.k 1 L.