, 1876-01-22
Platform of the National Grange
AGopted by the National Grange, at las
seventh Annual session.


Profoundly impressed with the truth that the
National Grange of the United States should defiant
ly pruclaim 10 the world IFS general OBJECTS We here
by uuauimou " make this Declaration Of Purposes
OF the Patrons OF HustAndry-
GENERAL OBJECTS.
/ United by the strong aud faithful tie of agricul
ture, mutually resolve to labor Tor the good or
order, country and mankind
>. We heartily endorse the motto " In essentials
unity; in ncn-tssentials, liberty; IN all things,
charity"
sFEcIFIc oBJrcrs.
:. We shall ends4Eoy to q an oy.r cause by
To develop better ami higher manhood and
wumauhoOd among Ourselves. To chang the com
forts and attractions OF our homes, and TO strengthen
our attachments TO eur pursuits. To foster UWtual
understanding and corporation To IuAIntaln IN
violate our laws, and to emulate each IN lator "
hasten the good tlTae coming. To reduce our eN-
uenSas both individual and corporate To buy it15
and pr,duce more. in order 10 make our farms self
sustaining. 10 diversity oar crops, and crop no
more than we cultivate. To eondense the weight
OF our exports selling less in the buSIel and more on
the hgof and 10 the fleece. To systematic work
and calculate intellgently probabilities TO dis
cOuutenance the credit system, the mortgage system,
the fashion system, ami every other system tending
10 prugigality and bankruptcy.
We propose meeting together, talking together,
working together, buying together, and IN general
acting together Tor our mutual protection and ac-
vtnceIeEt, H. occasion may require. We snail AVOID
litigation much possible Oy arbitration IN The
grange. We shall constantly strive 10 secure entire
harmony good VIII, vital blotberhooj among our
selv-s and to make order perpetual. We shall
ealeiyOr TO suppress QersOnz local, sectional and
national pTcuices, all unhealthy rivalry all selfish
ambition Faithful adherence 10 these primer lgs
viii insure mental, moral, social and material
advancement.
BUSINESS RELATIONS.
l. For our business interests We desire to bring
producers and consumers, ETmers and manuIactur-
erS into the most dIreeG and friendly relations TossI
bic Hence we must dispense with surplus OF MD
demen, not that We are untrendly 10 them, but
DO not need them. Their surplus and then eNctOnS
diminish profits.
We wage no aggressive warfare against any other
interest whatever ON the contrary, all our acts
and all our efforts 81 far as business Is concerned
are not only for the benefit Of the producer and
Sumer but also for all other interests that tend TO
bring these two parties into speedy AMI economical
contact. Hrnuc We hold that transportation eumpa-
mes OF every kind necessary 70 Or suCcc6sS TINT
their interests are Intimately connected With
terests and harmonious action Is mutually adytn-
tag,Ous, keeping IN view The first sentence III our
declaration OF principles of action that Individual
happiness depends upon general prosperity
Ne shall, Therefore, advocate for every State the
increase III every practicable way Of all facilities t0C
porting chriTly TO the seahO2ri, or between
home producers and oOLsumers, all the productiOus
our country Ne Adopt Il is oar fixed Purf -
" open out the channels IN natures great arteries,
that the life blood uf commerce may t0w freely
We not enemies OF rIIlluGtdS, uavIgable and
iIrigatins canals Of any corporation that wIlad
vance our interests, nor any LblrlAg classes.
In our noble order there IS uO Communism, no
agrarisnIsm.
We are opposed to such spirit AMI management Of
any corporation enterprise tends 10 Oppress the
people and rob them of then Just profits. We
not eHems 10 capital, bnt oppose the tyranny Il
HonOplies. We long to the ant,s OnisID between
capital and labor removed by common consent and
by enlightened StatesIuashp worthy OF the uius-
Ia Aa -
reS high rates Of interest AMI lThOIbtant per cent
profits trade They greatly increase cur burdens
and do not bear proper proportion t. the pruhs Of
prOlnc'IS. We dcsIIe only selfprotecton and the
P9yt-ct3OE OI every interest OF CUR tnl 10y lt
mae transactions, Legitimate trades AMI legitimate
p.oits.