The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-05
PLATFORM OF THE CHANGERS.

.t
The National Grange have adopted
and published an admirable declaration Of
principles, as the foundations and platform
of the order, which exhibits its aims and
operations, as follows:
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.
/. United by the strong and faithful tie
of Agriculture, we mutually resolve to
labor for the good of our Order, our coun-
try and mankind. d re
~. We heartily endorse the motto SIN
essentials, Unity non.essentials, Liberty !;
in all things, Charity.
3. We shall endeavor to advaEce our
cause by laboripg to accomplish the follow
ing objects:
To develop q better and higher manhood
and womanhood among ourselves.
To enhance the comforts and attractions
of our homes, and strengthen our attach
ments to our pursuits. h
+. To foster mutual understanding and CO.
operation.
To maintain inviolate our laws, and to
emulate 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 selfsustaining.
10 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.
10 systematic our work and calculate
intelligently on probabilities.
To discountenance the credit system, the
mortgage system, the fashion system, and
every other system tending to prodigality
and bankruptcy.
We propose meeting together, talking,
together, working together, buying to-
gether, selling together, and ID general,
acting together for our mutual protection
and advancement, as occasion may require.
We shall avoid litigation as much as pos
sible, by arbitration in the Grange.
We shall constantly strive to secure
entire harmony, good will, vital brother
hood among ourselves, and to make our
order perpetual.
We shall earnestly endeavor to suppress
personal, local, sectional and national
prejudices, all unhealthy rivalry, all selfish
ambition.
Faithful adherence to these principles
will insure our mental, moral social and
material advancement. d.
4. For our business interests. we desire
to bring producers and consumers, farmers
and manufacturers into most direct and
friendly relations possible. Hence we must
dispense with a surplus of middlemen, not
that we are unfriendly to them, but we do
not need them.
Their surplus and their exactions dimin-
ish our profits.
We wage no aggressive warfare against
any other interests whatever. On the con-
trary, all our acts and all our efforts, so far
as business is concerned, are not only for
the benefit of the producer and consumer,
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 to our success. that their interests
are intimately connected with our interests,
and harmonious action is mutually advan-
tageous. Keeping in view the first sentence
in our declaration of principles of action
that "Iudividual happiness depends upon
general prosperity"
We shall, therefore, advocate for every
state the increase in every practicable way,
of all facilities for transporting cheaply to
the seaboard, or between home producers
and consumers, all the productions of our
country. We adoptit as our fixed purpose
to "open out the channels in natures great
arteries that the life-blood of commerce
may flow freely"
We are not enemies of railroads, naviga-
BILE and ~irrigatiug canals, nor any corpo-
rations that will advance our industrial in.
%terests, nor of any laboring classes.
In our noble order there is no commuu-
ism, no agrarianism.
We are opposed To such spirit and mar
agement OF any corporation or enterprise.