, 1876-02-12
Platform of the National Grange
Adopted by the National GRANGE AT i''
seventh Annual Session.

flatf0rm or the ndIiOndi uT diige
Adopted by the National Grange, at It's
seventh Annual session'
PREAMBLE.
Profoundly impressed with the truth that the
National GranSe 81 the United States should defiant
ly proclaim TO the world It's general OBJECTS We
by unanimou ,ly make this Declaration OF purposes
OF the Patrons Of Husbandry:
GENERAL OBJECTS,
l. United BY the strong and faithful tie OF agrleul
ture, mutually resolve TO labor ioF tis soo1 Vi
our order, our country and mAnAlh1- -.
2 We heartily endorse the motto IN eSseiitII.s
unity; in non-essentials, liberty; N ali things
charity"
SPECIFIC OBJECTS.
{. We shall endsayor to advance our cause D!
laboring TO accomplish the following OBJECTS
TO develop better and higher rnanhooH saa
fvUmanhood among Ourselves 10 clahSe 'iie ~ - u
oorts and attractions OF homes and 70
uur attachments TO our pursuits 10 los'er m
understanding and cs-opersthJn. To MAINTAIN IN
violate our laws and 20 emulate each u IApot 10
hasten the good time coming 10 Ieluce OuI @ tx ~
penses both individual and Corporate 10 puY Us
and produce more in order 10 make our farms sell
sustaining 10 diversity our crops, ana crop no
more than we cultivate 10 eondeIse the "eisht
of exports selling less IN the bushel and more on
the hocf and IN the feecc To systeIntlze our "GrA
and calculate intelieutly on probabilities. To dis
cOuntsnance the credit system, the mortgage system,
the fashion SYSTEM and every other system tehdlhS
20 yrogigslity and bankruptcy.
Ne propose meeting together, talking toSethef,
working to-ether bnyinS together and n general
acting together fo- our mutual protection and ad-
vaDcsInent, OccasiOn may require ne shhi a'otu
litigation much Iossibl1 By aFDitratoh IL tDe
grange We shall constantly strive 10 secure eAlHo
harmony good will vital brotherhood among our
selves, and to make our order perie, uai- 7hali
endeavor to suppress PERSONAL local, sectonsi anu
national preiiiees all unhealthy rivalry, all selfish
ambition Faithful adherence 10 thsse principles
will insure our mental moral, social and material
advancement
BUSINESS RELATIONS.
4 For our business interests, We desire TO bring
proiueers and oon-uIners farmers and manufactur-
er- into the most direct and friendly relations psl-
ble Hence We must dispense with surplus OF md
dlemen, not that We unfrendly 70 them, but We
DO not need them Their surplus and their exaetlons
diminish profits.
We yaae no aggressive warfare against any other
interest whatever. On the contrary, all our acts
and all our efforts, so far business Is concerned,
are only the benefit of the protncer and con-
sumer but also for al other interests that tend 10
bring these two parties INTO speedy AMI economical
contact Hence we hold that transportation oompa-
nies of every kind necessary 20 oar success, tat
their interests intimately connected with our IN
terests and harmonious action Is mutually adVan-
tageous keeping IN view the first sentence IN cur
declaration Of principles of action that Individual
happiness depends upon general prosperity
We SHALL therefore, advocate ior every state the
increase every practicable way ot all facilities Tor
transporting cheaply to the seahoard, or between
home producers and consumers, all the productions
of our country. We adopt 1t our fixed purlos TO
"Open out the channels IN natures great arteries,
that the life blood of commerce may h0w freely"
We not enemies OF railroads, navlSahle ana
irriatn canals Of any corporation that will ad-
vance our interests, nor any lboring classes.
In cur noble order there is no communism, no
eyrarianfsnI.
We are opposed TO such spirit and management of
any corporation or enterprise tends Ia Oppress the
people and ROB them of their lust profits. We are
not eneIns to capital; bDt oppose the tyranny q
mOnopOlIes. We long to see the anta2onism BETWEEN
capital and labor removed by common consent, and
By enlightened craftsmanship worthy Of the nine
tenth century We opposed To excessive Stll-
res high rates of interest and eNhorbtrt per cent.
profits trade. They greatly increase our burdens
and do not bezr proper proportion 10 the profits Of
producers. We desiIe Only selfprUteetion and the
protection OF every true interest OF our land by leSt
innate TRANSACTIONS legitimate trades and legitimate
profits.
EDUCATION.
We shall advocate the cause of education among
ourselves and chilren, by all Just means within
our powes We especially advocate for our nsricu-
tural and Industrial colleges that practical aTlcu-
ture domestic science and all the arts which adorn
the home, be taught in their courses Of study.
THE GRANGE NOT PARTISAN:
5. We emphatieally and sincerely assert the oft
repeated truth taught III our organic law that the
grange national state subordinate IS not polit-
real or party organization No grange, if true 10 its
ODliEttOD-, DISCUSS IDth7sl OF icllROuS QutS-
lions, call political conventions, nominate cdnd-
dates discuss their merits in its meetings
Yet the principles teach unlerlie ali true pol:-
ties all true craftsmanship, and If properly carried
out will tend to purify the who!e political atmos-
phere of our country For seek the greatest good
TO the greatest Humbe-.
We must alway bear in mind tfat one by becoTn-
ing Patron OF Husbaniry, gives up that nhlienable
rights and duty which belongs TO every American
citizen TO take proper interest in the politics Of his
country.
On the contrary, it Is right for every member to DO
al in his power tgitIInItey To influence OrgUO1 the
action Of any political party TO which he belongs
1t is his duty to do all he can IN his own party To put
down bribery corruption and trickery; TO see that
bat Competent, faithful and honest Inen, who
viii uBfiinchngly stand by our industrial interests
nominated for all positions Of trust and to have
carried the principles winch should always char
acterize every grange member that
THE CFFICE SHOULD SEEK THE MAS, AND not THE
MAN THE OFFICE
We acknowledge the broad principle that differ
ence of opinion Is crime and hold that progress
toward truth is male Icy differences of opinion, "
while" the fault hes IN bitterness of cOntT0yersey
We desire proper equality, equity and faIrue
protection for the weak restraint upon the strong
short, justly distributed burdens and Justly dis
tributed power. These American ideas, the very
essence OF American Independence, and 10 advocate
the contrary unworthy OF 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 preseat and the future In our ag-
rcultura brotherhood and its purposes We shall rec
ognite 10 North, no South, no East no West
It Is resere to every patron, as the right of A
freeman to affiliate with any party that will best
carry out his principles.
OUTSIDE COOPERATION
G. Ours being peculiarly farmers institution, we
cannot admit all TO ranks.
Many excluded by the nature of our orsani-
Zation not because they professional men, or ar
tSlns, or laborers int because they have not suf-
fcient direct interest IN tirg or pasuring the SOIL
or may have some interest conflict with our pur-
poses. But appeal TO all good citizens for their
cordial cooperation TO assist our Efforts toward re-
form that we may put down tyranny and corruption
We hail the general desire for frae1 nal HARMONY
equitable compromises and earnest oooPeratisn as an
omen of our future success.
CONCLUSION.
!. 1t shall be an abiding principle with us to re-
Ieye any Of our oppressed ami suffering brotherhood
by any means az our command.
Last, but not least, proclaim it among our pur-
poses TO lnculcate proper appreciation Of the ab-
ties and spheres Of woman Is indicated BY admit
ing her TO membership ami postum in our order.
lnploring the continued assistance of our Divine
Master TO guide IN work We here pledge our-
selves TO faithful and harmonious labor for all future
time, to return by our united efforts 10 the wisdom
Justice, fraternity and political purity OF cur fore