, 1876-03-11
Platform of the National Grange
Adopted by the National Grange. at It's
Seventh Annual Session.

Adopted by the National Grange. at It's
seventh Annual Se>sion.
PREAMBLE.
Profoundly impressed with the truth that the
National Grange Of the United o'ates SHOULD
ly proclaim the world It's general ooects We mere
by unanmou ~ make this Declaration OF Purposes
OF the Patrons OF Husbandry:
eESERAL OBJECTS.
l. United by the strong and faithful tie OF agrlcul
ture We mutually resolve 10 labur tor the guoi Of
our order. our country and mankind
,. We heartily endorse the motto IN esSehtiAis'
unity in non-essentials, liberty; in all things,
charity"
SPECIFIC oBJEcTs-
3 We shall enI-avor TO advance our cause by
lsIoring TO accomplish the following objects:
To develop a better and higher inAhhoOa ana
fWOmanhoGd among ourselves 10 change the eoni-
oOTts and attractions OF Lomes and TO strengthen
uur attachments to pnISulis 10 loser mutual
nieTstAndiIg Z and cu-OperHtiun. 10 lnalutalh H.
violate Etwsrand 20 emulate t2ich IN AiDor 10
hasten the COOL time coming. To Teiuce our eA-
penSes both individual and corporate. 10 buy less
aud PrOiuce more. order to Nuke our farms sell
sustaining 10 diversity our crops, ana crop no
more than We can cultivate 10 oondense the weight
OF our expors selling less in the huShel and more ON
the hoof and IN the teece- To syseInatize our work
and calculate inte.hsenily On probabilities 10 DIS
eountenaDc= the credit system, the mortgage stem,
the fashion system. and every other system tehdlhS
TO prugigality ami bankruptcy.
We propose meeting together, talking together;
working together, buying together, anu IN genera
acting together for cur mutual protection ana an-
vanceuent as occasion may require. We shall aVha
litigation as much ns TOSsIbe by arbitration IN the
grange We shall constantly strive 20 secure entire
harmony good viii, vital brotherhood among our
selY y ami 10 make order perpe' ual. We shall
endeavOr To suppress pcrsODdl, local, sectional ana
national prcjulices, all unhealthy rivalry, all selfish
ambition Faithful adherence TO those principles
will insure our mental moral, social and material
advancement.
BCsINFES RELATIONS.
1. For our business interests, We desire to bring
producers and consumers, farmers and manuiactur-
trs INTO the most direct and friendly relations p0S
ble Hence must dispense with surp plus OF Inld-
dlemen not that We unlTlendly 10 them, but we
DO not need them. Their surplus and theIr eXactiOns
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 pToiucer and cOh-
sulner but also 70 all other interests that tend to
bring these two parties INTO speedy AMI economical
contact. Hence we hold that transportation compa-
N every kind necessary to suoccess tLat
their interests Intimately connected with
terests and htrmou0us action Is mutually advau-
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 IN every practicable way Of all facilities Tor
transporting cheaply 10 the seabOard, or between
home producers and consumers, all the TOiuctOnS
open ont the channels IN natures great arteries,
that the life blood of commerce may low freely"
We are not eneIneS OF railroads, navlgable and
irrgatiDg canals, of any corporation that VIII ad
vance our interests nor any lbOrlng classes
In our noble order there Is communism, no
acrayianiSm.
" e opposed 10 such spirit and management of
any corporation enterprise tends Ia Oppress the
people and rob them Of their JEst profits. We are
not capital, bnt oppose the tyranny Ct
monOpllieS. We long to see the antagonism between
capital and labor removed 10y common consent, and
by an enlightened craftsmanship worthy Ct the nine
teeuth century. We are opposed 70 excessive ssti-
rles high of interest and eXlOTbitInt per cent
profits IN trade They greatly increase burdens
and do not bear proper proportion 10 the profits of
prOdncsrs. We desIIe only selt-prOt9ctIon and the
protection OF every true Interest OF cur land 10y legIt
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 Tor our agricul-
tural and industrial colleges that practical aricul-
turs, domestic Science and ali the arts which adOrn
the home, be taught in their COURSES Of study.
THE GRANGE NOT PARTISAN.
s. We enphaticllly and sincerely ASSERT the Oft
repeated truth taught III our organic Law that the
grange, NATIONAL, state subordinate, not Il pOlit-
zeal party organization. No grslner If true 10 its
obligations, discuss political religious queS-
dates, even discuss their merits its meetings.
Yet the principles teach lerlie al true poli-
ties, all true saieSnansAip, AID If properly carried
out will tend 20 purify the wLo political attHOs
pheTe Of our country. For seek the greatest gOOl
10 the greatest number.
We must aws Is bear in mind that no one by becom-
ing Patron OF HUSianry, gives up that lialirnable
rights and duty which beuugs TO every Anercn
citizen 10 tse proper interest i'll tue politics IF LIS
country.
On the contrary it is right for e7ery member TO DO
ali his power leSItmatey influence Tor rguo the
action of any political party 10 winch n belongs.
II i hiS duty to 30 all he his party 70 put
down bibery, corruption AMI trickery; To Sc that
none bGt competent. faithful and Honest inrn vLo
VIII UIflln hIniy stand 10y industrial interests
are nominated iOr All po>iiIot~ of trust AMI 10 have
carried out the principles which si1uld always char
actegize every grange ine:n6e: that
IHE OFFICE SHOULD sEEK IlfE MAN, AND NOT TIE
NNN OFFICE
We acknowledge the broad princip!e tIs.t differ
euee OF opinion crime, AMI hold that prnaIg.-s
toward truth Is male 10y differences of o5iuiou "
while the fault lies bitterness of cont uyrrsey'
We desire = proper cqulIty, equity and f:tIrne
protection Tor the weak, restraint upOn the strong
IN short, justly distributed burdens and Justly dis
nlbuted power These are American IDEAS the very
essence ct American independence and to advocate
the contrary Is unworthy OF the sons and daurfrrs
OF an American republic.
We cherish the belief that seCtOnaliSm Is AMI of
right should be, dead and buried with the PAST CJ.r
Work i iof the present and the future In our az
ricutural Brotherhood and It's purposes we shall rec
osnIze no North, no South LO East, no West
1t Is reSerr 10 every patron, the right of a
freeman, 10 ai late with any party that will best
eirTy out his principles.
OUTSIDE COOPERATION.
G. Ours being peculiarly flImers' institution, we
cannot admit all TO our ranks
Many excluded by the Dature Of our organi-
ZtOn, not because they prof ssioual men, or ar
tlsans or labOreTs, bnt becusethey have not suf-
heient direct interest IN tIuy PIsturIug the SOIL
or may have some interest IA conflict with our plIr-
poses But We appeal to all good citizens Tor Their
CORDIAL cooperation 10 assist IN efforts toward re-
torn that we may put down tyranny ami corruption
We hail the general desire TOR Irateinal harmony !
equitable compromises and earnest cooperation an
omen of our future SUCCESS
CONCLUSION.
! II shall he abiding principle with us TO re-
leve any OF our oppressed and suffering brotherhood
Oy any means ut our command.
Last, but not least, proclaim 1t among our pur- |
poses to Incnlcate proper appreciation OF the ab-
ties ana spheres OF woman indicated by admit
Ing her TO membership and position IN our order
lmplOrlng the continued assistance OF our Divine
Master to guide us IN our work We here pledge our
selves 10 hul and harmonious l4lor for all future
time, TO return by our united efforts to the wisdom
Justice, fraternity and political purity of fore
fathers.