, 1876-04-15
Platform of the National Grange
Adopted by the National Grange, nj iis
Seventh ANIMAL Session.

Adopted by The National Grange. nj its
Seventh ANIMAL session.
PREAMBLE.
Profoundly impressed with the truth that the
National Grange OF the United States should derSht
ly proclaim TO the world Its general Uolect we mere
by unanimcu Iy make this Declaration OF PURPOSES
OF the Patrons OF Husbandry;
GENERAL oBtDcTs.
L United by the strong and faithful tie Of aSreli-
ture mutually resolve 20 LABOR ior the sNou VI
our order our country and mankind
.. We heartily endorse the motto In essentials,
unity in non-essentials, liberty IN all things,
charity"
9. We shall eni-avor TO advance our cause by
lsbOriuy 10 accomplish the following objects:
To develop a better and higher manhood and
fwUmanhood among our-elves- To change the c'hi-
oorts and attractions OF homes and 20 strengthen
uur attachments TO our pursuits To foster mutual
Understanding and cO-opertlOn- 10 MAINTAIN IN
| violate our laws and 10 emuhte ehel IL lauoi "
hasten the good time coming. 10 reduce our eA
penses, both individual and corporate 10 buy Itss
and produce more in order 10 make our farms SELF
! sustaining. 10 diversity our crops, ana crop no
more than cultivate. To eondense the weight
of our exports, selling less IN the oushe ana more on
the hoof and IN the Aeece. To systenatze our WORK
and calculate intellgenty ON probabilities 10 dis-
eountenance the credit system, the mortgage SYSTEM
tie fashion system, and every other system tendlhS
| to progigaity and bankruptcy
|
working together buying together, and In genera
| acting together for our mutual proteehon ana al,
| Tanoement, as OCCASION may require ne snail hsou
litigation much rs possible oy arbitration IN tbe
grange We snail constantly strive TO secure entire
harmony, good will. vital brotherhood among our,
selves, and 10 make our order perpetual We shall
endeayor TO suppress personal. loCai sectoHA ana
national prcjudices all unhealthy rivalry all selfish
| ambition Faithful adherence to those prlnclpts
will insure our mental, moral, soeai and material
| advancement
| BUSINESS RELATIONS.
4 For our business interests, We desire to bring
| producers and consumeTs farmers and manufacture
ers into the most direct and friendly relations oss
ble Hence must dispense with surplus OF md
demen, not that We are unfriendly 10 them, but We
do not need them Their surplus and their exactons
| 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 for the benefit OF the producer and con-
sumer but also for all other interests that tend 10
bring these two parties into speedy AMI economical
contact. Hence We hold that transportation compa-
nes of every kind necessary % our success, tEat
their interests Intimately connected with our In
| terests and harmonious action Is mutually adTan-
tagfous 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
transporting eheaply TO the se.bcard, or between
home producers and consumers, all the productions
/ of our country. We adopt it fixed purpose 10
Open out the channels IL natures great arteries,
1 that the life blood Of commerce may How freely.
! We are not enemies OF railroads, navlgabe and
irrgating canals nor of any corporation that Will ad
vance our interests, nor any laboring classes.
| In our noble order there Is no communism, no
| agTaIianiSm-
| We are opposed to such spirit and management of
any corporation or enterprise tends to oppres the
people and rob them OF their just profits. We are
not enemls TO capital bnt oppose the tyranny Cf
| We a nSef
capital and labor removed by common consent, and
by enlightened craftsmanship worthy OF the nine
teenth CENTURY. We are opposed % excessive salt-
ries high rates Of interest and eXhOrbtant per cent
profits III trade They greatly Increase cur burdens,
and do not bear proper proportion 70 the profits OF
prOinc-rs. We desire only self-protectlon and tie
protection of every true interest OF our land 10y teIt-
innate transactions, legitimate trades and legitimate
profits
| EDUCATIoE.
We shall advocate the cause of education among
ourselves and chilTen, by ali just means within
our power. We especially advocate for agricul-
tuTal and industrial colleges that practical aTISIIl
| ture domestic science and all the arts weh a}esn
| the home, be taught in their COURSES Of study.
| TIE GRANGE NOT PARTISAN.
5. We emplatIe.lly aad sincerely assert the Oft
repeated truth taught in organic liw that the
grange, nat Ona, state subordinate, Is not pOiIt-
zeal or party OrdnimtiOn. No grange, II true "a It's
obligations can discuss political or religious GUeS-
tions, call Iotic,l conventions, Nominate clrl!
dates, discuss their merits IN It's meetins-
Yet the principles teach Gn ierlie ali true pOli-
ties, all true stlesalship, aad If property carried
out will tend 10 parity the whole political atmcs
phere Of our country For We seek the greatest goUl
| to the greatest number.
We mus. always bear IN mind that no one By becon
ing Patron OF II uslsrEi ry, y up that InIenable
/ rights and duty whrh beOuyS 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
he
| action OF any political party To which he belongs
1t is lis duty TO DO all he IN h:s party 10 put
down bribery, corruption and t-IrkrTy; 20 that
nOne but Cnmpptent, faithful an! honest rue WHO
will unfinchiu-ly stunt 10y luSiTial Interests
nominated Tor ali positions OF Trust and 10 have
carried ont the principles which should slwal char
actesl2e every grange I:seHsSer that
TIE OFFICE SHOULD sgrK THE MAN, AND NOT TIE
M.N The oFFIcr.
We acknowledge The bruai principle that differ
cnce fCpnon Is no erIla, and bold that prO.rcsS
toward truth i made by differences OF opinion, "
While the fault lies IN bitterness OF cont oytrSey.
We desire u proper equal.y, equity ami hiirue !;
protection for the weak, restraint upon the stroHg
in short, justly distributed burdens and just.y dis
trlbuted Powe-- These are American ricts, the very
essence OF American Independence and TO Hdyu'Hic
the contrary Is unworthy OF the soas and daughters
Of an American republic.
Ne cherish the belief that sec;iOnaiism IS and Of
right should be, dead and buried with the past Our
work is for the present and the future. In our ae
ricutural Brotherhood and its purposes shall
ognize no North no South, no East, no West
1t Is reserv d to every patron, the right Of a
freeman, to affiliate with any party that will best
carry out his principles.
OUTSIDE COOPERATION.
6. Ours being peculiarly farmers institution, We
cannot admit All 10 our ranks.
Many excluded by the nature of our Orsani-
Zation, not because they professional men,
tisans, latorers, but because they have not SUI
cent direct interest IN tIllins pastur:n the soil,
or may have some interest conflict with puI-
poses. But appeal 20 all good citizens for their
cordial cooperation 10 assist III Efforts toward re-
form that may put down tyranny and corruption.
We hail the general desire for frateTnal harmony,
equitable compromises and earnest cooperation
| omen of our future success.
CONCLUSION.
!. It shall be an abiding principle with TO
eve any of our oppressed and suffering brotherhood
| by any means AZ our command.
last, but not least proclaim it among pur-
poses TO ineulate proper appreciation OF the ahil
ties and spheres of Woman indicated Jy admit
ing her to membership and position ID cur order.
ImpiOring the continued assistance Of our Divine
Master Ia guide in work. here pledge our
selves to faithful and harmonious labor for all future
time, 10 return by united efforts 10 the wisdom,
justice, fraternity and political purity Of fore
! fathers