The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-02-25
PLATFORM OF THE NATIONAL
GRANGE.

The recent address of Grand Master
Adams, delivered at the meeting OF
the National Grange at ST. Louis, as
wc;l as the platform Of principles
unanimously adopted, present an i'll
teresting exposition Of the working
and purposes Of tho organization
The organization itself has become a
power in the land, numbering thirty
two State Oranges, besides two Ter
ritorial and Il Canadian Grange, rep
rcsenting 10000 subordinate lodges,
and one million Of members, or about
onc-sixth of the entire number Of
persons employed in agricultural pur-
suits. Tho original purpose Of the
Oranges, according to Mr.. Adams,
was to enable the farmers to inter-
change views, and in the discussion OF
agricultural, literary and scientific
questions, to improve their mental,
moral and social condition. AS such
he thinks the organization has been
nroat success, and he has some mis-
givings whether the Society has acted
wisely in divcrging from its original
objects. He endorses fully, however,
the practical objects which have Sc
cured the attention Of the Oranges,
and suggests for profitable discussion
and experiment, systems of co-opera-
tive industry, the establishment Of
cooperative stores, the purchase OF
tools and supplies direct from the
manufactures, and the selling Of their
produce direct to the consumer. lie
believes that The National and State
Governments should regulate thc
rates Of transportation on railroads,
and that the public interest demands
that the law should provide that these
charges be reasonable. To secure
these objects the Grand Master thiSks
that it may be necessary that the
Oranges should enter into the field of
politics. The only escape for the
Oranges is in steady following out
Of the, purposes Of their organization,
and only an occasional interference as
a body in political affairs directly con-
nec.ed with those objects.
The purposes and objects Of the
organization are thus set forth in the
declaration Of principles unanimously
adopted at the late meeting in St.
!. United by the strong and faithful
tie Of agriculture, we mutually resolve
to labor for the good of our ORDER, our
country and mankind.
=. We heartily endorse the sentiment,
IN essentials, unity in non-esscntials,
liberty, III Sll lillliSS,
8. We shall endcavor to advance our
cause by lab0ring to accomplish the fol-
lowing objects: TO develop q better and
higher manhood and womanhood among
ourselves; to enhance the comforts and
of our homes and strengthen
our attachments to our pursuits TO
foster mutual understanding and coop
Grafton; to maintain inviolatc cur laws;
to stimulate each other to labor; to has
ten the good time coming; to reduce our
EXPENSES, both individual and co-opcfa-
tive; to buy less and produce more, III
order to make our farms scli-sustainst%
10 diversity our crops, and crop no more
than I'VE can cultivate; to condcnse the
weight OF our exports, selling less III tiie
h,;sLcl and more on the hooi ana III inc
fleece; to SVstcmatiZc our work ana cal
culate intc!ligently our probabilities; to
discountenancc the credit system, mort
gage system, fashion system and every
other system tending to prodigality and
bankruptcy; we propose to act together
for our mutual protection and advance
mcnt of the association; we shall avoid
litigation rs much as possible by arbitra-
tioH; VIC shall constantly strive to secnre
entire harmony, good will and brother
noOu Ilho!S OURSELVES anu w llNHE WI
order perpetual; We a!:all earn cs;!y en-
dcavor TO suppress PERSONAL, local, sec
tional and national prcjudices, all un
healthy rivalry, and selfish ambition.
Faithful adherence to these principles
will insure our mental, moral, social and
material advancement.
4. We desire to bring producers and
consumers, farmers and manufacturers,
into the most direct and friendly rcla.
tons possible; hence we must dispense
with the surplus Of middlemcn. We
wage 10 aggressive warfare against any
other interests whatever; on the con-
trary, all 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 inter-
ests that tend to bring these Two parties
into speedy and economical contact.
Hence we hold that transportation COM
panies of every kind are necessary to,
our success; that their interests are init
connected with our Interests,
and harmonious action is mutually ad-
vantageous, Keeping in view the first
sentence in our declaration of principles
of action - that individual happiness