, 1876-04-08
Platform of the National Grange
Adopted by The National Grange, AT its
Seventh Annual Session

FIdtiUFM OF Inc Ndiiuiioi vi oiiyO
Adopted by The National Grange, at ffs
Seventh Annual Session.
PREAMBLE.
Profoundly immersed with the truth that the
National Grange of the United States should defiant
ly proclaim the world IFS general uuects we mere
by unanimou ly make this Declaration OF Purposes
OF the Patrons OF Husbandry-
GENERAL oBJEcrs.
/ United by the strong and faithful tie of agricu
ture We mutually resolve TO iaoor iof lAs sO"d Vi
our order. country and mankind -,
2. We heartily endorse the motto IN "a
unity; III non-essentuals, liberty. IN all things
! charity"
! SPECIFIC OBJECTS.
5. We shall endsavor to advance our cause D!
/ laboring 70 accomplish the following oblects:
! To develop n better ana higher manhood ana
fwCmAnhood among ourselves 10 eiiahse the cJhl-
oorts and attractions OF Our Lolrs anu 20 sere e
uur attachments 70 Our pursuits 10 loser hulad'
/ Understanding and CO-OpIHtIOn. To MAINTAIN IN
violate laws and TO emulate eaeh ID E'ooi u
/ hasten the good time coming 10 Iein,S Ouf eA-
penses, both individual and corporate 10 boy itS
and produce more IN order TO make our iriis sell
sustaining. To diversity our crops, anu crop no
more than cultivlte- 10 condense me weight
OF our exports s. selling less II the blshe and more on
the hoof and in the feeoe. To systematic our work
and calculate ntelligently probabilities 10 DIS
cUuntenanee the credit system the mortgage system,
the fashion system and every other system tending
! 20 progigali,y and bankruptcy
| We propose meeting together, tdiAhlR uSe1herl
working together, buying together and IN general
acting together for mutual protection ana ad,
Yancement, occasion may require We sil4L s'oiu
| litigation much possible by arbitration IN the
grange. We shall constantly strive 10 secure entire
harmony, good viii, vital brotherhood among oar,
| selves aLi 10 make our order perpetual ne siiaii
endeayor TO suppress PERSONAL local. sectonai ana
national prcudces all unhealthy rivalry, all selfish
! ambition Faithful adherence to thsse principles
will insure our mental, moral, social and material
| advancement.
| BUSINESS RELATIONS.
| 1 For our business interests We desire 10 bring
| prodlcars and consumers farmers and manufacture
ers mo the most direee and friendly relations posi-
| BILE Hence must dispense with a surplus OF MD
| dlemeD not that untrlendly to 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 far business Is concerned,
are not only tor the benefit of the prOuUer and con-
sune bat also for all other interests that tend TO
bring these two parties INTO speedy and economical
contact. Hence we hold that transportation oOmpa-
mes of every kind necessary to success that
their interests are int tE-atey connected with III
teTests and harmonious action Is mutually adyan-
tag Gus, keeping in view the frst sentence III our
declaration Of principles OF action that " lpdv!dua!
happiness depends upon general prosperity"
We shall, therefore, advocate for every State the
increase IN every practicable way OF all facilities TOR
| transporting cheaply 70 the se4bOard, or between
producers anu consumers. the
of our country. We adopt 1t fixed purpose to
"Cpen cut the channels In natures great arteries,
that the life blood of commerce may flow freely"
We are not enemies OF railroads, navigable and
iTigatng canals, nor Of any corporation that VIII ad-
| vance interests any hbJriEg classes.
In Onr noble order there Is no communism, nc
! agrarianSm-
we are opposed TO such spirit and management of
any corporation enterprise tends to oppress the
people and rob them ot their just profits We are
not enems to capital, but we oppose the tyranny OF
monopolies. We long % see the antasOnism between
capital and labor removed by common consent, and
hy an enlightened craftsmanship worthy OF the nine
teenth injury. We opposed 70 excessive Sili-
RES high rates OF interest and eXhOrbtInt per cent.
profits IN trade. They greatly Increase cur burdens,
and do not bear proper proportion to the profits Of
prOincers- "" d-sIIe only seItpIutect4On ana the
protection OF every interest OF our land by e,it
innate transactions, legitimate trades aud legitimate
profits.
We shall advocate the cause of eIucetiOn among
ourselves and cEi!ren, by all jus within
( our power We especially advocate for our asrcui-
tuIal AM industrial colleges JEtt practical a,reui
ture, domestic SCqn"e and ali the arts which aiU:n
the home, be tausi; IN their courses Of study.
TIE GRANGE NOT PARTISAN.
5, We emphatic,I.y and sincerely assert the oft
repeated truth taught in our 0ISaiiic hw that the
grange, national, state N subordinate y not pOt
icl party organization. No grange, II true 10 its
O,igationS can discuss political religious qUcs-
] =
dates nOl even dis ,uss their merits It's meetings.
Yet the pinripies we teach nnieric all true poll
ties all true -ttesuaDship, and II iOPeriy carried
out VIII tend IN furlfT the Whole political athIOs
phere Of our count. For We seek the greatest good
| 10 the greatest nImG T.
We must always l-saI n mind that one, by beeom-
ing Patron OF lfuSlaI Y, gives up that Intllenth-
/ rights and duty which h ougs 20 every American
citizen TO take proper intel st n the politics OF Els
! country.
On the contrary It j. ri-it for very member to do
all IN his power i,:itmatry - iEh. 'ance fTg,oi the
action Of any political Partg IN 81 n ~ belongs
Il Is lis duty 10 10 al be- can M LIS ncrty 70 put
down bribery, corruption anf tncSery; - see that
none but COMPETENT. faithful ana honest Ii N, wro
vii rnHinrhinly 81 al ov Industrial int -stsr
are nominated Tor AZ Positions O! trust and 70 ave
carried out the principles which should always cha
/ actellZe every grange L,si:l.cg That
THE OFFICE SHOULD sEfR mAH, NOT
MAN THE oEF!Cr.
! We acknowledge the broad principle That differ
ence OF opinion is no crime, AMI hold that progress
toward ruth i nj. le BY i ifer,ureS Of opinion -
wnile " the faut iis in bitterness of cont oyersey'
| We desire proper equality, equity ana fairne 5
protection fOr the weak restraint upon the strong
in short, justly distributed burdens and justly dis
trbuted power These are American ie.s, the very
| essence of American Independence and TO advocate
the contrary Is unworthy of the sons and daughters
| of an American republic.
We cherish the belief that sectionalsm Is, and of
right should be, dead and buried with the past Our
work Is for the present and the futule- In ig-
rcultura brotherhood and It's purposes We shall rec
ognize no North, no South, no East, no West.
II is reServ d 10 every patron, as the right of
freeman, to affiliate with any party that Will best
! carry out his principles.
| OUTSIDE COOPERATION.
6. Ours being peculiarly farmers institution Se
| cannot admit all 10 our ranks
! Many excluded by the nature of our Orglni-
zation, not because they professional men or
tisIEs, labOTeTs bnt because they have not suf-
cient direct interest IN tlliIns pIsturn the soil
OF may have some interest conflict with our pu:
poses But We appeal 10 all good cIzeus tor their
cordial cooperation 10 assist in efforts toward
I form that We may put down tyranny and corruption
We hail the general desire Tor fraternal harmony
equitable compromises AMI earnest cooperation
! omen of our future success
| CoNCLUsIOS.
:. It shall he an abiding principle with US 10
heve any OF cur oppressed and suffering brotherhood
| by any means at our command.
Last, but not least We proclaim L amon,; our pur-
poses to lnculcate proper appreciation OF the at-
ties and spheres OF woman Is indicated By admit
/ Ing her 70 membership and position IN our order.
lmpornS the onntInu-d assistance of our Divine
Master to guide us IN our work, We here pledge
selves TO faithful and harmonious lItOT for all future
time, 70 return by united efforts 10 the wisdom