, 1876-02-26
Platform of the National Grange
Adopted by the National Grange, at its
NeTentr Annual SessiOns

ldopf1Sl by the Nattcuai GRANGE AT AAs
seventh Annual SESSION.
PREAMBLE.
p-s,,ll,- immersed with the truth that the
National Grange of the United States should detAnt-
Iy prcsim 10 The world its general objects, We here
by unaninou-ly make this Declaration OF Purposes
Of the Patrons Of Husbardry-
aESERAL OBJECTS.
limited hy the strong and faithful tie Of sgrieul-
| ture We mutually resolve 10 hDO- Tor the sOOd oi
| our order our country and mankind.
, We heartily endorse the motto - In essentials,
unity; in non-essentI1ls, liberty; In all things,
charity"
We shall endsavor to advance our cause BY
| tailoring 10 accomplish the following objects:
| To develop L better and higher manhood ana
fHDinanbO1i among ourselves. To change the CON-
o0rts and attractions Of our homes and to strengthen
r,r attachnents to our pursuits. To foster mutual
| uierstaudiug and cooperation To maintain H.
violate our laws, and TO emulate each IN 4aoOf 70
| hasten the good time coming To reduce our eN-
penses both individual and corporate 10 buy less
and prsiuce more in order 70 make our farms SELL
sustaining To diversity our crops, and crop no
more than we can cultivate To oondense the weght
of exports selling less n the bushel and more on
the hOOf and IN the feece. To systemltze our HoTA
and calculate intel-ently probabilities. 10 dis
countenance the credit system, the mortgage system,
the fashion systeIn and every other system tendin
TO prugigality and bankruptcy
/ Ne propose meeting together, taking together!
working together, buying together, and IN general
setin, together for mutual protection aud aG-
yaneeInent, OCCASION may require We shall AVOID
litigation as much Is possible by arbitration IN The
grange We shall constantly strive to secure entire
harmony good will, vital brotherhood among cur
selves and TO make our order perpetual We SHAH
endelvor 10 suppress personal. local, sectional and
national pTeIudices, all unhealthy rivalry, all selfish
ambition Faithful adherence TO thase principles
will insure mental, moral, social and material
advancement.
BUSINESS RELATIONS.
l-sps
producers and oonsumers. farmers and manufacture
into the most direct and friendly relations poSS-
Bile Hence We must dispense with q surplus OF md
demen, not that untriendly to them, but We
do not need them. Their surplus anu their eXactons
diminish our profits.
We wage no aggressive warfare against any other
interest whatever. On the contrary, all our acts
and al our efforts far as business Is oonc1srnei
only FOX the benefit of the producer and con-
sumer but also for all other interests that tend to
bring these two parties into speedy ..n1 economical
contact Hence We hold that transportation oompa-
of every KIND necessary 70 Oar success that
their interests intimately connected with our IN
terests and harmonious action is mutually advs.n-
tagrous, keeping in view the first sentence III our
declaration uf 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 for
transporting cheaoly TO the seahoard, or between
home producers and consumers, all the protuchons
of our country We adopt 1t as our fixed purpose TO
that the life blood Of commerce may H0w freely"
We not enemies OF railroads, lavigdble and
rrigan canals, Of any corporation that VIII ad-
vance our interests, nor any hbOrlng classes
In our noble order there Is no communism, no
agTaTlanlSm-
We are opposed TO such spirit and management of
any corporation or enterprise as tends 10 oppress the
people and rob them OF their Just profits. We are
not euemls TO capital bnt We oppose the tyranny Ct
mOnOpOies- We long tO see the antasOnlsm between
capital anu labor removed by oOm.nUn CONSENT and
by enlightened craftsmanship worthy OF the nine
teenth century. We are opposed 10 excessive s.a1
ries high rates of interest and eNhOrbtant per cent
profits in trade. They greatly increase our burdens,
and do not bear proper proportion to the profits Of
prOdncers. We desire only Selt-prOtectlOn and the
protection of every true OF land by et-
innate transactions, legitimate trades and legitimate
profits
EDUCATION.
We shall advocate the cause of education among
ourselves and our children by all Just means within
our power. We especially advocate for acrIcul-
tural and industrial colleges that practical arcul-
ture, domestic science and all the arts which aiOrn
the home, be taught in their COURSES of study.
THE GRANGE NOT PARTISAN.
s. We emphaticaly and sincerely assert the oft
repeated truth taught il organic law that the
grange, national, state OT subordinate, Is not pot-
zeal or party organization. No grange, II true 10 ITS
obligations, discuss political religious qEes-
tons, call political conventions, dominate ctndi-
dates, even discuss their merits in its Geetngs
| poll
tics, all true craftsmanship, and If properly carried
out Will tend 10 purify the whole political atmus
phere OF our country. For We seek the creates; good
10 the greatest number.
We must always bear in mind that no one by becom-
ing Patron OF Husbaniry, gives up That nslienable
rights and duty which belongs To every American
citizen to take proper interest in the politics OF ms
cenntry.
On the contrary, it is right for every member TO do
all in his power egtunately influence or gooI the
action Of any political party 10 wLich he belongs
1t Is hIs duty 20 do al! he his party pat
| down bribery corruption and tr!cSery; 10 SEE that
none but COMPETENT, faithful and honest men, vino
Will untnchInSly stand by our industrial Interests
nominated Tor all positions of trust and 10 have
carried ont the principles which should always char
acteIze every grange member that
THE OFFICE saOULD SEEK THE MAN, AND MOI The
MAN The OFFICE
We acknowledge the broad principle that differ
ence OF opinion crime anl hold that prr.-rSs
toward truth l. made by differences OF opinion -
while the fault lies IN bitterness of eontroversey''
We desire proper equality, equity and flirne- I;
protection fOr the weak, restraint upon the strong
IN short, justly distributed burdens and Justly Is
tributed power. These are American iiels the very
essence Of American Independence, and 10 advocate
the contrary Is unworthy OF the sons and daughters
| OF an American republic.
We cherish the belief that sertiOnaliSn * and Cf
right should be, dead and buried with the past Our
work Is for the present and the future IN our ae-
ricultural brotherhood and its purposes We shall rec
I OShlAt no -'oI III HO ,OulL, East, no " est.
1t Is reserv d to every PATRON as the right of a
freeman, TO affiliate with any party that will best
carry out his principles
| CUrsIDE Co-oPsRArroS-
6. Ours being peculiarly farmers institution, we
cannot admit all 10 our ranks
Many are excluded by the nature of our organi-
ztlon, not because they Professional men, OF az
tlSlns, or aborers, bnt because they have not suf
hlent direct interest IN tIng pisturin the SOIL
or may have some interest Conflict with our pur
poses But We appeal 10 all good citizens for their
cordial cooperation 10 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.
| a. 1t shall be an abiding principle with to re-
eVe any OF our oppressed and suffering brotherhood
by any means. at our command.
Last, but not leTst, proclaim il among pur-
poses 10 llcueate proper appreciation OF the abiI-
ties and spheres OF woman indicated by admit
| InS her 10 membership and position IL our order
| lWplOTIng the continued assistance of our Divine
Master 10 guide us IN our work. We here pledge our
selves 10 faithful and harmonious labor for all future
tlme TO return by united efforts to the wisdom