, 1876-04-29
Platform of the National Grange
Adopted by the National Grange, at i's
Seventh, annual Session.

Adepted by the National Grange, at its
Seventh, annual Session.
PIEANBLE.
Profoundly impressd with the truth thAs ,s ti.e
National Grunge of tht United States si'oula
" proclaim 20 The word It's general oolects we mere
by unanlmOu ly max tins Deelatal40' u "A RO'e9
OF the Patrons Of HGsandry;
crSFIL 0BJECN-
Uni,a3 bv the string and faithful tie Of agrieni-
ture We mutually resolve to labor Tor the Sooc oi
our order, our country and mankind ....,-
? We heartily eniosse the motto: = In essentials,
unity, in nUn-esSentIIis, uoSrt9 III AZ ''''-e''
charity"
3. We shall endsavor TO advance our cause by
lsbOring 10 accomplish The following obleets
To develop a bette and higher nanhooh ana
fWomanhoOd among ourselves 10 ciianse tle ~,
uur attachments 10 or pursuits 10 foster Iutudi
UNDERSTANDING ana o-opeHtGn 10 MAINTAIN IL E
violate our laws ard TO emulate eaeh IN Laoof 70
hasten the q-Doi tins coming. To reduce our eA-
repses 10Th irdiyiIu.i and corporate To buy less
and produce more IN order 20 make our iarihs SELL
sustaining TO fiveTNify our crops, anu crop no
more tLan We can cultivate 10 eondense the weight
OF our exports selling less IN the Dlsle AM inOIe u
and calculate inte!lgTDtly probabilities 10 us
eountenance the credit system, the mortgage system
the fashion system, and every other system 1en"in5
TO prog gigality and bankruptcy, -
We meeting klrScthctS tSa4h~As-S Se~N''~-
working together buying together, and IN general
acting toretber for or mutual protection ana al
yaneement rs ocC7SlUl may require we sh'Ii dNO'd
itition as much as possible by arbitration IL tbe
grange We shall constantly strive to secure entire
harmony, good win, vital brotherhood among our
seIYs and To make our order perpetual " sllhll
endeavor 20 suppress personal local. seeuo,i anu
national prejuaiees all unhealthy rivalry ali selnsh
amhitiOn' Faithful adherence 10 these principles
will insure our mental moral, social and material
advancement.
BUSINESS RELATIONS.
4 For our business interests, we desire to bring
producers and consumers, farmers and manuiaetuT-
ers into the most GreS and friendly relations pos-
BILE Hence We must dispense with surplus OF md
dlemen not that unfriendly TO them, but We
do not need them, Their surplus and their exaetons
diminish our profits
We wage no aggressive warfare against any other
interest whatever. On the contrary, all our acts
and all our efforts, - far business Is concerned
are not only for the benefit of the producer and con-
sumer but also for all other interests that tend 10
bring these two parties into speedy AMI economical
contact Hence We bold that transportation oCmpa-
nies of every Bind Necessary u Our SUCCESS tAt
their interests Intimately connected with our IN
terest5 aud harmonious action Is mutually aCYan-
tagrOuS, keeping IN view the irst sentence IN our
declaration Of principles of action that Individual
happiness depends upon general prosperity
We shall, therefore, advocate for every State the
increase IN every practicable way OF all facilities Tor
transporting chesply To the seaboard, or between
of our country. We Eaopt it our fixed purpose 70
:. CDen out the channels IN natures great arteries
that the life blood Of coEamerce may flow freely"
We are not enemies of railroads, navigable and
irrSatinS canals, nor Otany corporation that VIII i'd
vance our interests, nor any laboring classes.
In our noble order there is no communism, no
agrarianism.
" { are opposed to such spirit and management Of
any corporation enterprise tends to Oppress the
people and rob them OF their just profits. We are
not enenis to capital, bat oppose the tyranny CT
nunOpOiieS- We Ions, the aTlts4so between
capital and lalOr removed by COMMON consent, and
by enlightened stttesmanship worthy OF the nine
teenth century. We aIe opposed % excessive Sala-
ries high of interest and eXLorbtant Per cent
profits IN trade. They greatly increase our burdens,
and 10 not bear proper proportion 10 the profits Of
prolncsTS- We desire only seltprctectIOn and the
protection of every true interest of our land by iet
innate TRANSACTIONS legitimate trades and legitimate
profits
EDUCATION.
We shall advocate the cause Of elucatiOn among
ourselves and our chlen, by all Just means within
our power. We especially advocate for agricul-
tural and industrial colleges that practical ayr.cuL
ture, domestic science and all the arts which adUrn
the home. be taught IN their COURSES Of study.
THE GRANGENOT PARTISAN.
s. We euphatically and sincerely assert The oft
repeated truth taught IN organic law that the
grange, natoual state Of subordinate, i not pOlt-
zeal party Organization No grange, If true to its
Obligations, can discuss political or religious ques-
tons, nor call political conventions, nominate ctndi-
dates, discuss their merits in It's meetings
Yet the principles we teach unlerlie al true poll
ties all true craftsmanship, and if properly carried
out VIII tend TO purify tie whole political atmos
phere Of our country For We seek the greatest god
to the greatest number
We must always bar in mind Il at one by becnm-
ing Patron OF HuSbanlry, gives up that inilenihe
rights AMI duty which bcOngS 10 every American
citizen to take proper interest in the politics of his
country.
On the contrary 1t is night for every member 10 DO
al IN his power leltmI.ey to influence goOi tie
action OF any political party TO which he belongs
1t is his duty 20 DO all he IN his party put
down b:ibery, corruption and ts!cErTy; 10 that
none but competent, faithful and honest men, who
VIII UnflncAinsly stand By Industrial interests,
nominated for all Positions OF trust and 10 have
carried out the principles winch should always char
gcteriZe every grange member that
THE OFFICE SHOULD SICK TIE NAN, AND NOT THE
MAN THE OFFICE.
We acknowledge the broad principle that differ
ence Of opinion Is crime, at bold that IrJsress
toward truth Is made by differences Of opinion, "
while the fault hes IN bitterness OF cont OYrrsey.'
We desire proper equality, equity and i4irue 5
protection for the weak, restraint upon the strong
in short, justly distributed burdens and Justly dis
tributed power. These American IDEAS the very
essence OF American independence, aud to advocate
the contrary Is unworthy o; the sons and daughters
OF an American republic.
We cherish the belief that sectionalism IS and of
right should be, dead and buried with the past. Our
work Is for the present and the future In our az
reultural brotherhood and purposes we shall rec
o:;uize no North, no South, no East, no West.
It Is reserv to every patron, as the right of a
freeman, 70 affiliate with any party that VIII best
carry O;It LIS principles.
OUTSIDE COOPERATION.
C. Ours being peculiarly farmers institution, we
cannot adIn.t all to our ranks.
Many are excluded by the nature Of our Organi-
zation not because they professional men or
tlSans labOrers, bnt bec=nss they have not sUf-
eient direct interest N lliDg paSturInS the soil,
may have some interest in conflict with our pUr
poser. But We appeal 10 all good citizens ior their
CORDIAL cooperation to assist IN efforts toward
form that We may put Gown tyranny and corruption
We hail the general desire for frateInal harmony,
equitable compromises and earnest cooperation
omen OF our future success.
CONCLUgION-
= It shall be an abiding principle with us 20
eTe any OF orr Oppressed and suffering brotherhood
by any means at our command.
last, but not least, Te proclaim II among 0-Ir pur-
poses To Inculclte proper appreciation OF the ab
ties and spheres of wOnaG indicated by adraItt-
lgs her 20 membership and position IN order
lnplorIES the-rOnIlnued assistance of our Divine
Master TO guide us IN work. We here pledge our
selves TO fihful and harmonious atOr for all future
time, TO return by our united efforts 70 the wisdom
Justice, fraternity and political purity OF fore
fathers
Il