Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1874-02-28
FIELD AND GARDEN
THE CREED OF THE PATRONS.

Edited bV M II. BAKEHAM.
THE CREED OF THE PATRONS.
At the annual meeting OF the National
Grange of Patrons of Husbandry, held
at St. Louis the 9th of this month, the
following declaration of the principles
and aims of the Order was unanimously
adopted. We commend it to the care
full perusal of all who are desirous of
obtaining information on this subject.
1t is good and wholesome reading for
all classes:
1. United by the strong and faithful
tie of Agriculture, mutually resolve to
labor for the good of our order, our
country, and mankind.
: 2. We heartily indorse the motto,
"In essentials, unity; non-essentials,
liberty; in all things, charity We
shall endeavOr to advance our cause by
laboring to accomplish the following OBJ
jects:
To develop better and higher man.
hood and womanhood among ourselves.
To enhance the comforts and attractions
of our homes and strengthen our attach
ments to our pursuits. To foster mutu-
al understanding and cooperation. To
maintain inviolate our laws, and to en-
ulate each other in labor. To hasten
the good time coming. To reduce our
expenses, both 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 cultivate. To condense the
weight of our exports, selling less in
the bushel, and more on hoof and in
fleece. To systematize our work, and
calculate intelligently on probabilities.
To discOuntenance the credit system, the
mortgage system, the fashion system,
and every other system tending to prod
igality and bankruptcy.
We propose meeting together, talking
together, working together, buying to-
gether, selling together, and in general
acting together for our mutual protec-
ton 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 local,
sectional and national preiudices, all
unhealththy rivalry, all selfish admoni-
ton. Faithful adherence to these prin-
ciples will insure our mental, moral, So
| cial and material advancement.
3. For our business interests we de-
sire to bring producers and consumers,
| farmers, manufacturers, into the most
direct and friendly relations possible.
Hence we must dispense with surplus
| of middlemen; not that we are unfriend-
| ly to them, but do not we need them.
| Their eXactions diminish our
profits. We wage no aggressive war;
| fare against any other interests whatev-
er. On the contrary, all our acts and all
our efforts, So far as business is con-
cerned, are not only Tor the benefit OF
the producer and consumer, but also
for all other interests, and tend to bring
these two parties into speedy and eco
nomical contact. Hence We hold thai
transportation companies of every kline
are necessary to our success; that theil
interests are intimately connected will
our interests, and harmonious action il
mutually advantageous. Keeping in
view the first sentence in our declara-
ton of principles of action, that '1ndi
, vidual happiness depends upon genera
J prosperity" we shall therefore advocat,
for every State the increase in every
. practicable way of all facilities for trans
porting cheap1y to the seaboard, or be
tween home producers and consumers
J all the productions of our country. w
II adopt it as onr fixed purpose to opel
, out the channels in Natures great arte
ries, that the life-blood of commerc
may flow freely. We are not enemie
of railroads, navigation and irrigatinl
/ canals, nor of any corporation that vii
advance our industrial interests, nor @
any labOrIng classes. In our noble Or
der there is no communism, no agrari
g anism. We are opposed to such spiri
s and management of any corporation o
enterprise as tends to Cypress the pee
pie and rob them of their just profits
; We are not enemies of capital, but W
oppose the tyranny of monopolies, w
: long to see the antagonism between CAP
, ital and labor removed by common cor
sent and by enlightened statesmanshi
worthy of the nineteenth century. w
!, are opposed to excessive salaries, hig
0 rates of interest and eXorbitant profit
: in trade. They greatly increase on
burdens, and do not bear proper pro
: portion to the producers. We desire OF
e " self-protection and the protection {
e every interest of our land by legitimai
9 transactions, legitimate trade and legi
mate profits.
4. We shall advance the cause of et
y ucation among ourselves and for OF
q children by all just means within OIL
J. power. We especially advocate for OIL
agricultural and industrial colleges tn;
y practical agriculture, domestic scienc
q and all the arts which adorn the hon
le be taught in their course of study.
~ 5. We especially and sincerely asse
= the oft-repeated truth taught in our o
~ ganic law that the Grange, Natona
le State, or subordinate, is not polite
j. or party organization. No Grange,
ts true to its obligations, can discuss poll
ical or religious questions, nor call p
litical conventions, nor nominate cand
dates, nor even discuss their merits
In its meetings. Yet the principles v
ri teach underlie all true politics, all tt,
= craftsmanship, and if properly carrie
- out will tend to purify the whole poll
l. ical atmosphere of our country. F
O. we seek the greatest good to the create
a number, but we must always bear
!. mind that no one, by becoming Patr(
II of Husbandry, gives up that inalien
e. BILE right and duty which belongs to e
Or cry American citizen, to take prop
,r interest in the politics of his countr
:. On the contrary, it is right for evel
d. member to do all in bis power legit
I'd mately to influence for good the actit
10 of any political party to which he b
nt longs. 1t is his duty to do all he can
:, his own party to put down bribery, co
III ruption and trickery to see that no
ge but competent. faithful and honest me
IN who will unflinchingly stand by our
II terests, are nominated for all position
-. 1T should always characterize eve
u Patron of Husbandry that the OIL
to should seek the man and not the m;
Dt the office, We acknowledge the bro