American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-02-21
PLATFORM OF THE NATIONAL
GRANGE.

following
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES;
Profoundly impressed with the truth tha nu rps
National Grange of the United states shouiu
definitely proclaim the world It's gene
we hereby unanimously make this declaration Vi
purposes Of the Patrons of Husbandry'
FRATERNITY.
. F5,sf-uuited by the strong and faithful tie OF
agriculture we mutually resolve TO labor Tor inc
good of our Order, our country and mankind
rNITY-LuBERTY- cHARITy
.Second-We heartily indorse the motto: I'm
essentials Unity; in non essentials Liberty; in all
things Charity"
COOPERATION
Ihlfd-We shall endeavor 10 advance our cause
ny laboring TO accomplish the following objects:
10 develop a better and higher manhood and
womanhood among ourselves; TO enhance the
comforts and attractions Of our homes and
strengthen our attachments to our pursuits; 10
foster mutual understanding and cooperation: to
maintain inyioate eur laws and 10 stimulate each
ether to labor to hasten the good time coming; TO
reduce expenses, both individual and corpo-
rate; to buy less and produce more. in order To
make our farms self-supporting: to diversity our
crops and plant no more than we can cultivate:
and in feeces: TO systematize our
work: and calculate intelligently on the prob
mortgage system. the fashion system. and every
other system tending to prodigality and bankrupt
cy- We propose meeting together. talking to-
cether. working together. buying together selling
together, and generally acting together for our
mutual protection and advancement. a. occasion
may require. We shall avoid litigation much
possible by arbitration in the Grange We shall
constantly strive 10 secure entire harmony, good
will and vital brotherhood among ourselves. and
to make our Order perpetual. We shall earnestly
endeavor 10 suppress personal local. sectional and
national prejudices, all unhealthy rivalry and all
selfish ambilon. Faithful adherence to these
principles will insure mental, moral social and
material advancement
NO MONOPOLY
FOurth-Fer our business interests desire tn
bring producers and consumers, farmers and man.
ufacturers into the most intimate relations posi-
Hence. fisDense
nliddle-men not that we Hnfriendly to them.
exactions diminish our profits We wage no ag-
yressive warfare against other interests what
ever On the contrary ali our acts and all our
efforts. far as business il concerned, not
only for the benefit Of producers but also for all
other interests that try 10 bring those two parties
into speedy and economical contact. Hence
hold that transportation companies Of every kind
are necessary TO our success; that their interests
that harmonious action is mutually advan-
fageous; Keeping in view the first sentence
g individual happiness depends upon the general
prosperity. we shall therefore advocate for every
state the increase in every practicable way of all
facilities for transporting cheapIy to the seaboard
or between home producers and
sumers all the productions Of our conn
try. We adopt it fixed purpose to
open ont the channels in Natures great arteries,
that the life blood of commerce may flow freely.
We are not enemies of railroads. navigable and
1rr1gatng canals. nor of corporation that will
advance our industrial interests, of any labor
ing classes In our noble Order there is no COM
spirit and management Of airy corporation or enter
prise as tend to Cypress the people and rob them OF
their lust profits. We are not enemies to capital.
but oppose the tyranny of monopolies We
long to see the antagonism between capital and
lighfened 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 increase our bur.
dens. and do not bear 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 legif-
innate profits. We shall advance the cause Of edu-
cation among ourselves and for our children by all
cate for agricultural and industrial colleges
that practical agriculture, domestic science. and
all the arts which adorn the home be taught in
their courses of study
NOT A POLITICAL BODY.
Fnh-We emphatically and sincerely assert the
oft-repeated truth Taught in organic law. that
the Granee-National. State or subordinate-is not
q political or party organization No Grange, il
lgious questions nor cali political conventions nor
nominate candidates, nor even discuss their merits
in its meetings: yet the principles we teach under
properly carried ont, will tend to purify the WHOLE
political atmosphere Of our country, for we seek
one, by becoming Grange member, gives
NJ, that inalienable right and duty which
take proper interest in the politics of his
try ION the contrary it is right for every member
to do all in his power legitmately to influence for
good the action of any political party to which he
belongs. 1t is his duty to do all he can in his own
party to put down bribery. corruption and trckery
to see that none but competent faithful, and hon
est meuS who Will unfinchingly stand by our in
dustrial interests are nominated for all position.
of trust and to have carried out the principle which
should always characterize every Grange member
that the office should seek the man, and not the
pie that difference Of opinion is no crime and
hold that progress toward truth is made by
the bitterness of controversy. We desire a proper
equality. equity and fairness; protection for the
weak: restraint upon the strong-in short. justly
distributed burdens and justly distributed power.
These are American ideas, the very essence of
American independence, and TO advocate the con-
trary is unworthy of the sons and daughters Of an
American Republic. We cherish the belief that
sectionalism is, and of right should be- dead and
buried with the past Our work il for the present
and the future. In our agricultural brotherhood
and its purposes we shall recognize no North, no
South- no East, no West 1t is reserved by every
Patron as his right freeman to affiliate with
any party that will best carry out his principles.
MEMBERSHIP.
Sirh-Ours being peculiarly farmers inetitu-
tion we cannot admit all to our ranks Many are
excluded by the nature Of our organization not be-
cause they are professional men, or artisans, or
direct interest in tiing or pasturing the coil or
may have some interest in conflict with our pur-
poses but we appeal to all good citizens for their
reform. and that we may eventually remove from
our midst the last vestige Of tyranny and corrup.
harmony. equitable compromise. and earnest CO.
operation as an omen Of our future success.
81 CHARITY.
Serehh-It shall be an abiding principle with us
to relieve any of oppressed and suffering broth
erhood by any means at our command.
woMAN's SPHERE.
Last but not least. we proclaim 1t among our
purposes TO nculcate a proper appreciation Of the
abilities and sphere of woman. as Is indicated by
admitting her TO membership and position in our
Order.
GENERAL PLEDGE
Imploring the continued assistance of our Divine
Master 10 guide us in our work, we here pledge
ourselves to faithfully and harmonOusly labor for
all future time to return by our united efforts to
the wisdom, justice, fraternity and political purity
Of our forefathers.
s A MEMORIAL.
A memorial to the Patrons of Husbandry in
the Cotton States was also presented and
unanimously adopted. 1t is an argument in
favor OF mixed husbandry in the South, in
stead of expendiDg the energies of the people
in raising single crop. 1t says:
During the past seven years our cotton feldi
have added to the wealth of the world 2OoO, 900,
coo and caused prosperity to smile upon ever,
one who has handled our crops, save those who
struggled for their production. Annually the en-
ergies Of the cOttOn-planters have been exhausted
single staple, whilst quite as frequently he has re
duced his means in supplying his necessary wants
system based upon such policy and producing
such results must be radically wrong, and II per
sisted in, will lead to bankruptcy and ruin. Nc
people can ever become prosperous who are moi
self sustaining Our fertile soil exhaustIess min
eral wealth, abundant water-power and genial
salubrious climate avail nothing if annually
considered that home grown bread is cheaper thai
purchased supplies and the observation OF every
planter ~ that those Southern farmers who live
encountered with debt than those who have relied
solely upon the cotton crop. Were it otherwise i
supply OF those articles which are necessary 10
their daily consumption.
1t then refers TO famine, which more THAI
once occurred in India, owing to the efforts o
49,