Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-02-20
THE NATIONAL GRANGE
Platform of Principles.

|
ST. LOUIS, February 1.-THE National
Grange to-day, after the transaction Of somt
minor business, received The report Of The Com
mlttee OH Resolutions, and adopted 1t unaui.
mously. II is us follows:
Profoundly impressed with the truth thai
the National Grange of the United States
should definitely proclaim 10 the world il:
general objects, we hereby unanimously MAKE
this declaration OF the purpose of the Patrons
Of Husbnndry.
First. United by the strong and faithful til
OF agriculture we mutually resolve TO labor
Tor the good OF our order, our country, and
| mankind.
Second We heartily endorse the sentiment
In essentials, unity; in non-essentials liber-
ty in all things. charity"
Third. We shall endeavor to advance our
cause by laboring to accomplish the following
| ooJects To develop better and higher man
hood and womanhood among ourselves; 10 en-
nance the comforts and attractions Of our
! homes, and strengthen our attachments TO our
pursuits; 10 foster mutual understanding and
cooperation; to maintain inviolate our laws;
TO stimulate each other to labor; to hasten the
| GOOD time coming; to reduce our expenses
both individual and cooperative 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 con-
dense the weight of,exports, selling less in the
bushel and more on the hoof and in the fleece;
TO systematize our work, and calculate in
diligently our probabilities; to discounle-
nance the credit system, mortgage system,
fashion system, and every other system tend
ing to prodigaity and bankruptcy; we pro-
pose 10 act together for our mutual protection
and advancement of the Association we shall
avoid litigation as much as possible, by arbi-
tration; we shall constantly strive to secure
entire harmony, good will and brotherhood
among ourselves, and to make our order per-
petnate we shall earnestly endeavor TO suppress
| personal local, sectional and National preju-
dices; all unhealthy rivalry; all selfish AMI
bition. Faithful adherence to these principles
will insure our mental, moral, social, and
material advancement.
Fourth. We desire TO bring producers and
consumers, farmers and manufacturers, into
the most direct and friendly relations possible;
hence we must dispense with the surplus Of
middlemen. We wage no aggressive warfare
against any other interests whatever on the
contrary, ali our acts and all our efforts, as
far as business is concerned, are not only for
the benefit of producers and consumers, 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 10 our
success, that their interests are intimately con-
nected with our interests, and harmonious
action is mutually advantageous. Keeping
in view the first sentence in our declaration of
principles of action that individual happiness
deepens our general prosperity, we shall there
fore advocate for every State increase in every
practicable way of all facilities for transport
ing cheaply to the seaboard, or between home
producers and consumers, all productions of
Ou n nj los f raj
nayigable and irrigating canals, no: any other
corporations that will advance our industrial
interests, nor of any laboring classes. In our
noble order there is no communism and no
agrarianism. We are opposed to such spirit
| and management of any corporation or enter
prise rs tends TO Cypress people and rob them
of their just profits. We are not enemies to
capital but we oppose the tyranny of monopo-
| lies. We long to see the antagonism between
capital and labor removed by common con-
sent, and by enlightened craftsmanship worthy
of the nineteenth century We are opposed
to excessive salaries, high rates of interest and
exorbitant percentage or profit on trade, as
| they greatly increase our burdens and do not
| bear proper proportion to the profits of the
producers. We desire only selfproection and
| protection of every true interest offered by
legitimate transactions, legitimate trade and
| legitimate profits. We shall advance the cause
| of education among ourselves and for our
children by all just means within our power.
We especially advocate for our agricultural
and industrial colleges that practical agrcul-
| ture, domestic science and all arts which adorn
the home be taught in their courses of study.
Fifth. We emphaticaliy and sincerely assert
| the oft-repeated truth taught in our organic
law, that the grange, National, State, or sub
ordinate, is not a political or party organiza-
ton. No grange, if true to its obligations,
| can discuss political or religious questions,
| nor call political conventions nor nominate
candidates, nor discuss their merits in its
meeting. 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 country,
! for we seek the greatest good to the greatest
number. But we must always bear ii in mind
that no one, by becoming grange member,
gives up thatinalieuable right and duty which
belongs to every American citizen to take
proper interest in the politics of his country !;
on the contrary, it is right for every member
to do all in his power legitimately to influence
| Tor good the action of any political party to
| which he belongs.
Sixth. By the nature of our organization, i,
being peculiarly farmers institution, we
cannot admit all to our ranks. Many are ex-
cluded not because they are professional men,
or artisans or laborers, but because they have
not sufficiently direct interest in ulling OF
pasturng the soil or may have some interes,
in conflict with our purposes; but we appeal
to all good citizens for their cordial co-opera.
ton to assist US in our efforts towards reform
that we may eventually remove from oul
midst the last vestige of tyranny and corrup-
ton.
Seventh. 1t shall be an abiding principl,
with us to relieve any of our oppressed and
suffering brotherhood by any means at our
| command.
Last not least we proclaim it among oui
purposes to incnicate proper appreciation O
the abilities and sphere of woman as is indi
Gated by admitting her to membership and
position in ourorder. Imploring The continued
assistance of our Divine Master TO guide us in
our work, we here pledge ourselves to faithful
and harmonious labor for all future time, to
return by our united efforts to the wisdom
justice, fraternity and political views of oul
forefathers
memorial to the Patrons of Husbandry
in the cotton States was also presented, and
adopted unanimously. Ii is an argument in
favor Of mixed husbandry in the South in.
stead OF expanding the energies of the peopl,
in raising single crop. IL says during th,
past seven years our eotton-feds have added
to the wealth Of the world two thousand mil
lions of dollars, and caused prosperity to smil,
upon every one who has handled our crop:
save those who struggled for its production
annually. The energies of the cotton planter
have been exhausted in attempting to produc,
the maximum crop of single staple, willis
quite as frequently he has reduced his mean
of supplying his necessary wants. A system
based upon such policy, and producing suel
results, must be radically wrong, and, if per
| sisted in, will lead 10 bnnkrupfrv md min =