, 1876-02-19
Platform of the National Grange
Adopted by the National Grange N fS
Seventh Annual Session.

Platform of the National Grange
Adopted by The National tsrnuses IA iS
seventh Annual ssssioh'
PREANBLE-
prosoun1,y ;n,n-s--sa with the truth that the
National Grange OF the Cnlteti StateS snou'd -
Is proclaim 20 the world It's genera oele. P
by unaninou-ly make this Declaration VI ~ P0"eo
OF the Patrons OF Husbandry'
GENERAL oIJBcTs-
United by the strong and faithful tie OF agrlerl
ture, We mutually resolve 10 1UOr IOi 'Ne s''~
our order, our country and mAnAlhd- 81.
. We heartily endorse the motto III eSseiI.Lsi
unity IN uOn-esseutals, liberty IN III lnine''
charity"
a We sbaI, ep5s.vnr 10 advance our cause by
lsbOring 70 accomplish the follow inS OBJECTS
To develop u better and higher IIanhoot anu anu
fwOnRnhcOd amcng ourselves 10 O'AiiSe -, -
oores and attractions OF our Lonles' anu VS. 70 50 s,i
uur attachments TO our pursuits 10 los@el 'A
understanding and oD-operatlOn- To MAINTAIN IN
violate our laws and 10 emulate e1rI ia 49, o -
hasten the good time coming 10 Ie"Ge ~ ~ l..
penses, both individual and corpOaVe' 20 IL
and produce more N order 10 make our iltis sell
sustaining 20 diversity our crops, ana crop no
than we can cultivate. To oonderise the "tinl
of our exports selling less N the busel anu more o
the hoof and III the eeoe 10 10 As
and calculate intellisently On probabilities 10 us
cuuttnance the credit system the mortgage sS
the fashion system, and every other - s'ei4 O4A9
10 progig igalty and bankruptcy N. ...to-
Ne pgopsese meeting together, talking uSeIne1,
working together. buying together, and IN general
aetine, together for our mutual protection anu ae-
vsnceraent, OCCASION may require we shAi AFJ S
litigation as much as possible by aTDllrdlioh III tpV
grange We shall constantly strive to secure entire
harmony good will vital bTothsrhood among our
selves and TO make our order ptrpe ual we silaii
endeaTOr 10 suppress personal, local. sectional anu
national Drcjudices all unhealthy rIVary, AL selfish
4 n
will insure our mental, moral social ana Inateriai
advancement.
BUSINESS EELATIoSs-
4 For our business interests, we desire 70 bring
producers and consumers, farmers and msnufactnr-
s INTO the most direel and friendly relations poSsl-
he Hence we must dispense with a surplus of md
dlenen not that We uniriendly 10 them, but we
do not need them Their surplus and TIER eHic'ohs
diminish our profts-
We wage no aggressive warfare against any other
interest whatever. On the contrary, all our acts
and all our efforts, 50 far as business IS eOncernel,
are not only for the benefit of the pgonctr and con-
SINNER but also for all other interests that tend 10
bring these two parties into speedy AMI economical
contact Hence We hold that transportation oompa-
MES of every kind necessary TO our suecss, that
their interests intimately connected with our IN
terests and harmonious action Is mutually adVan-
tagaous keeping in view the first sentence III our
declaration of principles Of action that individual
happiness depends upon general prosperity
i've shall therefore, advocate for every State the
increase IN every practicable way Of all facilities ior
TRANSPORTING cheaply TO the seaholrd, or between
home producers and consumers, all the productions
OF our country. We adopt 1t our liked purpose ID
open out the channels IN natures great arteries,
that the life blood of commerce may flow freely
We are not enemies of railroads, navigable ana
rriglting canals, nor OF any corporation tlit Will a
vance our interests nor any labOrlng classes
In our noble order there is no communism, no
egrsrianism.
IA,
people and rob them OF their just profits We are
not eGemIs TO capital, but oppose the tyranny cI
monOpolies. We l9ng 20 see the ants9onlsD between
capital and laIor removed by common consent, and
by an enlightened craftsmanship worthy OF the nine
teenth century. We are opposed 70 excessive Sila-
ries high rates OF interest and eXhOrbtant per cent
profits IN trade. They greatly increase our burdens
and do not bear proper proportion - the pronis o
prolncers We desiie only self-protection and the
protection of every interest OF our Land by let-
innate TRANSACTIONS legitimate trades and legitimate
profits.
EDUCATION
We shall advocate the cause of educ5tian among
ourselves and our Children by all Just within
power. We especially advocate for our dericul-
tul aud industrial colleges tlrt practical ag:icul
ture domestic science and all the arts winch eiUrn
the home, be taught in ther courses Of study.
THE GRANGE NOT PARTISAN,
5. We eTnphlticilly and sincerely ASSERT the oft
repeated truth taught IN our organic law that the
zeal or party organization. No grange If true Ia its
obligations, discuss political or religious queS-
tOns nor call political conventions, nominate candl
dates, discuss their merits in its meetings.
Yet the principles teach un ierlie all true poll
ties, alp true craftsmanship, and If properly carried
ont viii tend TO purify tie who'e political atmOs
phere Of our country For We seek the greatest good
to the greatest number
We must always bear IN mind that one by becom-
Ing Patron OF HuSbdndTy, gives up that InIllcndble
rights and duty which belongs 10 every American
citizen 10 take proper interest IN the politics Of his
country
On the contrary it is right for every member 10 do
al IN his power leInately TO influence for guO the
action OF any political party To which ha belongs
1t IS lis duty 10 do all lie ms party To pUt
dorm b.IUery, corruption and tricatTyi TO that
none but competent, faithful and honest men, who
viii uTtiIncngly stand 10y industrial Interests
nominated for all Positions of trust and TO have
carried out the principles which should always char
acteTize every grange member that
IHE oFFICE SHOULD sErK THE MAN, AND SOT TIE
MAN THE OFFICE
We acknowledge the broad principle that differ
encs ui Cp,ulIn ls no crime, and hold that progress
toward truth is male by differences Of opinion ~
while " the fault lies IN bitterness OF eoHtroyersy
We desirs proper equality, equity AMI f,.irne.s :;
protection for the weak restraint upon the strong
IN short, justly distributed burdens and Justly dis
tri5uted power These are American IDEAS, the very
essence of American Independence and to advocate
OF an Amer. republic
We cherish the belief that sectionalisn is and of
right should be, dead and buried with the past Our
work Is for the present and the future In our ag-
ncultural brotherhood and its purposes We shall rec
ognIze no North, no South, no East, 10 West.
1t Is reserT-d TO every patron, the right of
freeman, TO affiliate with any party that will best
carry out his principles.
OUTSIDE COOPERATION.
6 Ours being peculiarly farmers institution, we
AL Il
Many are excluded by the nature of our orpan-
zaton, not because they profess onal men, or ar
tlSins or iabCreTS, bnt because they have not suf
hcient direct interest IN tilng or psturing the SOIL
or may have some interest conflict with our pur
poses But We appeal to all good citizens tor their
cordial cooperation TO assist in our efforts toward re-
form that We may put down tyranny and corruption
We hail the general desire for fraternal harmony,
equitable compromises and earnest cooperation as an
omen OF our future success.
CONCLUSION.
I. 1t shall be an abiding principle with TO re-
eve any Of cur oppressed and suffering brotherhood
by any means at our command
Last, but not least, We proclaim It among our pur
poses to lneuieate proper appreciation OF the abil
teS ana spheres OF woman Is indicated by admltt
ing her TO membership and position IN order.
Implorlng the continued assistance Of our Divine
Master 10 guide IN our work, we here pledge
selves 20 faithful and harmonious labor for all future
tlne 10 return by united efforts the wisdom,
Justice, fraternity and political purity OF fore
q.