, 1876-04-22
Platform of the National Grange
Adopted by the National Grange at It's
Seventh Annual Sessicu'

fldif0fm or the MdtiOlldl 0i dilyo
Adopted by the National Grange, at its
Seventh Annual Session
PREAJBLE-
Profoundly impressed With the trpth that the
National tringe Of the 7 uiir 1lAsts sil
ly proclaim 10 the worli Its general ooleets We here
by unanimoG ly make tbs Declaration OF Purposes
OF the Patrons OF Husbantry;
oE,szaAL oBJEC1s-
/ United by She strong and faithful tie Of asrieal-
ture, We mutually resolve to aoor toF the god OF
our order. our country and mankind
,. We heartily endorse The motto ; " IN essehtptis
unity in nOn-essentials. liberty; IN all things,
SPECIFIC oEJECrs-
We shall epJeayor to advance our cause by
lshoring TO accomplish the following objects;
10 develop a better and higher manhood and
f,vomanhoud among ourselves. To change the cum
oOrts and attractions OF oar Eoss ana to strengthen
uUr attachments 70 our purSuis. 10 tester mutual
ulerstandiTg and Cl,UpcbtfJn- To MAINTAIN H.
violate otr laws and 70 emulate each IN !auor TO
htsten the CuOi time coming. To reduce our eN-
pen,es both individual and corporate. To buy les
and produce more IN order 10 make farms SELF
sustaining 10 diversity our crops, and crop no
more tha., We can cultivate To conaense the weight
OF our eKpOr - ceiling lees IN the bushel and more on
the hoof and in the heecs To sgstematize our work
and calculate inteil-ently probahlltles To dis-
cOuntsnAnCe the credit system the mortgage system
the fashion system, and every oth7r system tending
20 prog igality and bankruptcy.
We propose roeetiu; together, talking together,
working together, buying together, and IN general
.cting tO.yrthcT fJT mutual protection and adj
yaneement as occasion may require We shall avoid
litigation rs much Is possible by arbitration IN the
grange We shall constantly strive 70 secure entire
harmony good viii, vital brotherhood among our
-ely, and 10 make our order perpetual He shall
endeivor 10 suppress personai, local, sectional ana
national prcjulicas a. unhealthy rivalry, all selfish
ambition Faithful adherence 10 those principles
NL insure our mental, moral soelal and material
advancement
BUSINESS RELATIONS
s For our business interests, We desire 10 bring
produrers and cousuGEers, farmers and manuidc'ur-
ers INTO the most dlrec and friendly relations Tos-
hle Hence must dispense with "A surplus OF md
dleinen not that Uniriendly 10 them, but We
do not need them Their sTrV lus and then ex.ctloLs
diminish our profits.
/ We wage no aggressive warfare against any other
| interest whatever. On THE COGtUUy, all our acts
and all our efforts, 30 far A. business Il concerned
are not only the benefit of the prO1ugGr and con-
suiner but also all other interests that tsai TO
bring these two parties into speedy AM economical
contact Hence We hold that transportation ooInpa-
MES OF every kind are necessary b. oar succ - tiat
their interests intimately connected with our IN
terests and Harmonious acton Is mutually gdYan-
tag-Ous keeping IL view the first sentence IN our
declaration Of principles of action that " individual
/ hagputss depends upon general prosperity
We shah, thei eilTc advocate for every STATE the
increase IN every practicable way Of all IcItles for
Transporting chsIqiy ~ the seAloard, Or between
home D-a.s.cers and consumers all the productions
Of our country We adopt aS our fixed puri 0Se %
open ont the channels in natures great arteries,
that the he bOOi ot commerce may flow freely
We are not enemies Of Taiiroats, navi2abie and
rri2at.G, canals OF any corporation that VIII ad-
! vance our interests, nor any Ltb,rlnS classes.
In or noble u-der there IS 10 COMMUNISM, no
ag-aranlsn.
| are opposed to such spirit AMI management Of
any crVC..t!Cn enterprise tends tO OppTNs The
Da,ule and rob them Of their just profits We are
not eneIis to capital, but we oppose the tyranny q
rngnnpOeS We long % seq the autag gOnlsm between
c.l:t.i! and ller removed by cCIaOn consent, ami
by an enlightened stittsmaIship worthy OF tie nIne-
teenth century. ,s are oFpOsei 10 excessive Sii-
rieS hi, rates If int rest and eNhCrbitant per cent
profits Ia trade They realty increase our burdens,
AMI 30 not bear proper TcoTtlun u tie prolis OI
prOiucgrs We d-sIle only seil-pruLsctlun anu the
protection of every tTJe uJeret OF our iaiiG %! 't-
mate Transactions, legitimate |. Sdes ana legitimate
profits.
EDUCATION.
We shall advocate the cause OF edU cation among
ourselves and children, by all Just le<ius within
power. We eSpecIly advocate Tor or dStlcul-
tuIl and industrial colleges that practical agtrul-
ture domestic science and ali the arts which I0orn
tie home. be taught IN their courses OF study.
TIE GRANGE NOT PARTISAN.
S. We empI.ati,s,lIy aud sincerely assert the Oft
repeated truth Taught IL our organic law tiat the
grange n'tour, state or subordinate, is not pOlit-
iri or party uIdnIZltl0n- No grange, II true 10 its
obligations discuss pO!!tIt7t! religious gUeS-
tions call political conventions, nominate caudi-
dates, even discuss their merits IN its meetings
We; the principles teach nl-rIie all true poll
ties, all true craftsmanship, and if properly carried
! out viii tend to purify tie WECe political atmOS
phere OF our country. For seek the greatest gOOi
| to the greatest num5sc-
We must always bear in mind tlt 10 one by beco;-
ing Patron o. Hus.ln3sy, gives up that iE=ii1Eibe
/ rights and duty which bt.Ougs - every American
citizen to take proper interest IL the politics Of his
| country.
On the contrary, It Is right for every member to DO
al II Lis power tIlnateiy 10 Influence for good he
action Of any political party 10 which he belongs.
Il Is bis duty 10 do AL he ~ his party 10 put
dOwG bribery, corruption and t-ckery; 10 that
none but competent, faithful and honest men, who
VIII Tn:iincnngiy stand by industrial interests,
are nominated tor all Positions OF trust AMI 10 have
carried oGt TIE principles which should always char
! GcteIlze every grange member that
zHE OFF.CE sHoULD SEX THE agAS, AND NoT TIE
MAN THz oFFIcE.
We ackn5wIsiss the broad principle that diITer-
ence Of opinion Is crime, ami hold that pruress
/ toward ruth Is male 10y differences of opinion -
while " the iault iie IL bitterness OF r0utroyrrscy'
We desire TrJper equality, equity AMI l,rne 5
protection for the wek restraint upon the strong
IN short, justly distributed burdens and Justly dis
| tribUt- rover These are American i!eIs the very
essence OF American independence and 10 advocate
:he contrary Is unworthy Of the sons aai daughters
! OF n American TepuGiIc.
We cherish the belief that sectiOna!iSm is and of
right should he, dead ami buried with the past. Our
work Is tor the present and the future In our ag-
rCLituTI Brotherhood and It's purposes We shall rec
| ognize 10 North, no South, no East DO West.
Il Is reseEv 10 every patron, as the right of a
freeman to affiliate with any party that viii best
/ carry Ou5 lis principles.
OUTSIDE Cg-OPEEsTION.
c. Ours being Peeuiia,Iy farmers institution, we
/ cannot admit all 20 our ranks.
Many excluded by the nature of oar Or-sni-
ztticn, not because they professional men, ns ar
tsas, or lIlCrars, but because they nave not SUI
trInJ direct interest IN tns or p4sturiu, the soil
may lave some interest IN conflict with our pur-
POSTS. But Se appeal 10 all good citizens tor their
cordial cooperation assist Efforts toward rs-
form that We may put Gown tyranny and corruption
We hail the genera! desire iOg frateinaI harmony
equitable compromises and earnest cooperation As am
Cmen Of our future success.
CONCLUSION.
:. It shall he al abiding principle with US 10 re-
eYa any of Onr oppressed and suffering hrotherOOl
! by any means az UuT command
Last, but not least, pso-lfIn K among our pur
poses to Incui1te proper appreciation OF the Hbi,i-
ties and spheres OF woman Is indicated by admit
M her 10 membership anl position IN our order.
impOlns the continued assistance of our Divine
Master 20 guide us IN our work We here pledge our
selves 20 thiUl and harmonious lalor Tor al future
time, 10 return by united Efforts u the wisdom