, 1876-03-25
Platform of the National Grange
Adopted by the National Grange, at fss
Seventh Annual Session.
PREAMBLE

Z toliui I'LL vi tstC Notioho' VI o"SS
Adopted by the National Grange, az Tvs
Seventh Annual session.
PRKAMBLE-
profoupdiv immersed with the truth that the
National Grange Of the United STATES shouid denAht
" proclaim the world Its general oeleet' we mere
by unsnimcu-ly make this DeehIauOn VI upOSeS
or the Patrons OF Husoandry'
limited nv tbe strong and fsithful tie of agricul'
ture We mutually resolve TO labor for the gOod OF
our order our country and mankind
2 We heartily endorse the motto " In essentials,
unity; in non-essentials, Liberty IN all things,
charity"
SPECIFIC OBJECTS
s. We shall end=avor 10 advance our cause by
lsboring 10 accomplish the following objects
To develop better and higher manhood and
fwomanhood among ourselves. 10 change ths com
oOrts and attractions of homes and 70 strengthen
uur attchp,ents 10 our PURSUITS. To foster mutual
understanding and cooperation To MAINTAIN H.
violate our laws, and 70 emulate eAeh IN lauor 70
hasten the e-oOd time coming. To reduce our e1-
penses, both individual and corporate 10 buy less
and produce more in order % make our farms self
| sustaining To diversity our crops, and crop no
more than cultivate. To eondense the weight
of exports selling less IN the bushei and more on
the hoof and IN the fleece To systeInatZe our WORK
and calculate intellgently on probabilities 10 dis
c0untenance the credit system, the mortgage system,
the fashion system and every other system tendins
| 70 progigslty and bankruptcy.
We propose meeting together, talking together,
working together, buying together, and IN general
acting together for mutual protection and ad-
yancement, rs occaslon may require. We shSu aNO'd
litigation much As possible by ar0trdtlon IN tbe
grange We shall constantly strive 10 secure entiTe
| harmony good will, vital brotherhood among our
selves and 10 make our order perpetual. We shall
eHdeaVOr 10 suppress personal local. sectional ana
national prejuiices all unhealthy rivalry, all sefsh
| ambition Faithful adherence 10 those principles
will
| advancement
| BUSINESS RELATIONS.
4. For our business interests, We desire TO bring
producers and consumers, farmers and manuiaetur-
into the most direct and friendly relations pOssl-
| ble Hence we must dispense with surplus OF mid
dlemen, not that We unfriendly TO them, but We
do not need them Their surplus and their exaetlons
diminish our profits
| We wage no aggressive warfare against any other
interest whatever. On the contrary, all our acts
and all our efforts so far business is concerned.
not only for the benefit of the producer and con-
sumer but also for all other interests that tend TO
bring these two parties into speedy and economical
contact. Hence We hold that inspiration eompa-
nes OF every kind necessary 10 oar succcss that
their interests intimately connected with our IN
| tarests and harmonious action Is mutually advan
| tageous keeping in view the first sentence IN our
declaration Of principles of action that Individual
| happiness depends upon general prosperity"
| We shall therefore, advocate for every state the
increase every practicable way Of all facilities for
|
home producers and consumers, all the productions
Of our country. We adopt 1t our fixed purpose 10
open out the channels in natures great arteries,
| that the life blood OF commerce Elay flow freely.
| We lot enemies OF railroads, navigable and
rrgatng canals of any corporation that Will ad-
vance our interests, nor any laborlng classes.
| In our noble order there Is no communism, no
| agrarianism-
| We 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 enemls TO capital bnt oppose the tyranny Of
mOnopo!ies. We long 10 see the anta9onlsm between
| capital and labor removed by common CONSENT, and
by enlightened craftsmanship worthy of the nine
teenth centdry. We are opposed % excessive si!a-
res, high rates Of interest and eNhOrbant per cent.
profits trade. They greatly increase our burdens,
and do not bear proper proportion To the profits of
! prodneers- We desue only seltproteetion and the
protection OF every interest of our land by egt
innate transactions, legitimate trades and legitimate
| profits
! We shall advocate the cause OF education among
ourselves and children, by all Just means within
! Cur power We especially advocate for agricul-
tural an industrial colleges thht practical asrcul
ture domestic science and all the arts which ndorn
the home, be taught in their courses Of study
TIE GRANGE NOT PARTISAN.
S. We enuhatically and sincerely assert the oft
repeated truth taught IN our organic law that the
grange, national, state subordinate, not pOt-
zeal party organization No grange If true its
ODllgatlOnS, can discuss political or religious QueS-
tions, call political conventions nominate eindi
dates nor even discuss their merits its meetings
Yet the principles teach unlerlie all true poll
ties, all true stltesmanshp and If properly carried
| out will tend TO purify the whole political atmOs.
phere of our country For seek the greatest good
/ 10 the greatest number.
We must always bear in mind that one by becOm-
ing Patron of Hushanlry gives up that inalienahle
| rights and duty which belongs 10 every American
citizen to take proper interest in the politics of his
| country.
On the contrary it is right for every member to do
all in his power leitmaely 10 inuenoe for gOOl the
action OF any political patty 10 which he belongs.
It Is LIS duty to do all he IN his party put
down bribery, corruption and trickery; 10 that
none but competent, faithful and honest men, vino
will untlinchinsly stand by our Industrial interests
nominated Tor all positions OF trust; and to rtve
carried out the principles which should always char
acterize every grange member that
| THE OFFICE SHOULD SEEK THE NAN, AND NOT THE
MAN The OFFICE
| We acknowledge the broad principle that differ
ence of opinion Is no crime and hold that progress
| toward truth Is male by differences OF opinion )"
while the fault hes IN bitterness Of cont oyerSey."
! We desire proper equality, equity and f,rue
protection for the weak restraint upon the strong
IN short, justly distributed burdens and Justly dis
tributei power These are American IDEAS, the very
| essence of American Independence, and to advocate
the contrary Il unworthy Of the sors and daughters
| of an American republic.
We cherish the belief that sectionalism IS and of
right should oe, dead and buried with the past Our
work Is for the present and the future In our as-
ricutural brotherhood and its purposes We shall rec
ognze no North, no South, no East, no West.
1t Is reserY TO every patron, the right Of a
freeman, 70 affiliate with any party that will best
carry out his principles.
OUTSIDE COOPERATION.
G. Ours being peculiarly farmers institution we
cannot admit all 10 our ranks
Many excluded by the nature of our organi-
zaton, not because they protest. sIonal men, or
tsans OF labOrers, bnt b-ause they have not a SUI
hcent direct interest IN tlng or pasturing the SOIL
or may have some interest in conflict with our plr
poses But We appeal 10 all good citizens for their
cordial cooperation 10 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.
oOscLUsIOS.
J. It shall be abiding principle with us TO re-
leye any Of our oppressed and suffering brotherhood
by any means at ouT command
Last but not least, We proclaim it among our Pur
poses TO Incucate proper appreciation OF the Abil
ties and spheres OF woman indicated by admit
ing her TO membership and position Ill our order.
ImplOring the continued assistance of our Divine
Master TO guide us IN Our work here pledge our
selves 10 faithful and harmonious labor for all future
time, 70 return by united efforts TO the wisdom
Justice, fraternity and political purity Of fore
fathers.