Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-02-20
The CHANGERS, PLATFORM.
An ADMIRABLE STATEMENT OF PRIN-
CIPLEs AND PURPOSES.

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 country, and
mankind.
2-We heartily indorse the motto, "In es.
sentials, unity in non.essentials, liberty; in
all things charity" We shall endeavor to
advance our cause by laboring to accom-
plish the following objects To develop
better and higher manhood and woman
hood among ourselves. To enhance the
comforts and attractions Of our homes, and
strengthen our attachments to our pursuits
To foster mutual understanding and copper.
alton. To maintain inviolato our laws, and
to emulate each other in labor. To hasten
the good time coming. To reduce our ex-
penses, beth individual and corporate To
buy less and produce MORE in order to make
our farms self-sustaining. To diversity our
crops, and crop no more than We can culti-
ports, selling less in the bushel, and more on
hoof and in fleece. To systematic our
work, and calculate intelligently on proba-
bilities. To discountenance the credit sys.
TEN, the mortgage system, the fashion sys-
tenn, and every other system tending to prod
igality and bankruptcy.
We propose meeting together, talking to-
gether, working together, buying together,
selling together, and in general acting togeth-
err for our mutual protection and advancement
as occasion may require. We shall avoid
litigation as much as possible by arbitration
in the grange. We shall constantly strive
to secure entire harmony, good will, vital
brotherhood among ourselves, and to make
our order perpetual. We shall earnestly
endeavor to suppress personal, local, section.
al and national prejudices, all unhealthy ri
vaIry, all selfish ambition. Faithful ad-
herence to these principles will insure our
mental, moral, social and material advance
ment.
3-For our business interests we desire to
bring producers and consumers, farmers aud
manufacturers, into the most direct and
friendly relations possible Hence we must
dispense with a surplus Of middlemen not
that we are uniriendly to them, but we do
not need them Their surplus and their ex-
actions diminish our profits. We wage no
aggressive warfare against any other interests
whatever. On the contrary, all our acts
and all our efforts, so far as business is con-
cerned, are not only for the benefit of the
producer and consumer, but also for all other
interests, and tend to bring these two parties
into speedy and economical contact Hence
we hold that transportation companies of ev-
cry kind are necessary to our success that
their interests are intimately connected with
our interests, and harmonious action Is mu-
tually advantageous. 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 ev.
cry practicable way of all facilities for trans
porting cheaply to the seaboard, or between
home producers and consumers, all the pro-
auctions Of our country. We adopt it as our
fixed purpose to open out the channels in
natures great arteries, that the liie-blood Of
commerce may flow freely. We are not en-
emies of railroads, navigation and rrigating
canals, nor Of any corporation that will ad-
vance our industrial interests, nor of any Ia.
boring classes. In our noble order there is
no communism, no agrarianism. We are
opposed to such spirit and management Of
any corporation or enterprise as tends to
Cypress the people aud rob them Of their
Just profit, We are not enemies of capital,
but we oppose the tyranny Of monoplies
u IN ha mi hatt
ital and labor removed by common consent,
and by enlightened craftsmanship worthy of
the nineteenth century. We are opposed to
excessive salaries, high rates Of interest and
exorbitant profits in trade They greatly
increase our burdens, and do not bear a
proper proportion to the profits of producers.
We desire only self-protection and the pro-
lection of every interest of our land by legit-
innate transactions, legitimate trade, and le-
climate profits.
I've shall advance the cause Of educa-
tion among ourselves and for our children by
all Just means within our power We espe-
cially advocate for our agricultural and in
duStrial colleges that practical agriculture,
domestic science aud all the arts which
adorn the home be taught in their courses Of
study.
5-We especially aud sincerely assert
the oit'repeated truth taught in our organic
law that the grange, national, state or sub
ordinate, is not political party organiza-
ton. No grange, if true to its obligations,
can discuss political or religious questions,
nor call political conventions, nor nominate
candidates, not even discuss their merits in