The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-06-18
NEW DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
NATIONAL GRANGE.
At the TSce!fth annual Session, Held at
Richmond, Virginia, November 20
TO so, 1878.

We, the members of the National
Grange, desiring to define the precise OBJ
iects of the Patrons of Husbandry, and
place them before the membership Of the
Order throughout the Union, do hereby
set forth the following propositions with
our distinct declaration of purposes re-
lating thereto.
The industry upon which our Order
is based is Agriculture-the most indie
pendent of all industries, the foundation
and support of all others, the true basis
of all our National prosperity. We have
observed the condition of our people, and
viewed with alarm the encroachmentS
upon their natural rights. While Agricul-
ture is the chief source of all our wealth,
and therefore deserving of at least equal
recognition with other vocations, it is de-
prived of its just rewards and oppressed
by methods of law. 1t is made to bear
grievouS burdens not its own; it is COM
PEELED to pay taxes which an equitable
distribution would place elsewhere; it is
forced by wicked combinations to submit
to hurtful determinations against its pro-
ducts both in transportation and in the
marts of sale; it's votaries have been and
are now denied that consideration in pub
lie affairs to which the magnitude and
the Importance of their calling entitle
them The laws of the Nation and of the
several States are so framed as to divert
from our great industry the rewards
which are the incentives to toll, and an
earnest remonstrance against their injus-
tice spurned.
In view of these truths, we are bound
! in defense of our manhood to assert our
rights, and we therefore declare our I'M
alterable purpose to emancipate Agricul-
ture from the burdens unjustly heaped
| upon it, and the means by which we shall
! seek to secure the desirable ends.
|. We shall strive earnestly, within
| and without our Order, TO extend the
| benefits of education, which shall COM
! prise knowledge of public affairs and the
| methods of self-government.
g We shall demand admission in the
! Legislature of the several States, and in
! both Houses of the National Congress,
for representatives of Agriculture chosen
directly from its votaries, as the only
| means of relief.
3. We shall accord to other industries
all the rights, privileges and immunities
which we claim for our own, and JOIN
with their representatives in earnest en-
deavors to impress Son the General and
| State Governments the habits of wise
economy and frugality as essential to the
| thrift and prosperity of all the people.
tention to the public schools, in which
the youth of the country are deeply inter-
ested, limiting expenditures therefor only
| by their usefulness, striving always for
that higher and practicable enlightenment
| which should become the distinguishing
feature of a free people.
| After the above had been adopted, the
| following was also presented and passed:
In accordance with the above objects
do hxy
which they are to be obtained, we pledge
our unyielding devotion to the work
marked out. We believe the principles
| enunciated in our Declaration are in full
| accord with the highest welfare of our
country. and that they deserve support,
| especially by all farmers. The history OF
| Agriculture on this continent shows that
no organization in its behalf has ever
been attempted without direct effort on
the part of those who prey upon its pro-
ducts to neutraliZe the work, and the less
ons of the past establish the conviction
that our only hope is in the full and cord
ial cooperation of farmers, wherever To-
Gated, to insure that success which is
within our grasp.
We appeal, therefore, to good men and
women, whose interests are our own, to
Join their efforts with ours, confident that
with their support we shall not wait long
for the consumation of our hopes. We
appeal to the agricultural journals OF the
land, asking their great influence in ana
of the above objects as a poeent means
for the attainment Of great object 10
these forces, and to the intelligence OF
our people, we present the purposes
which animate many thousands of farm
ers in every State of our Union, and rev
erently trust in the direction OF the wise
| in wi dpprpR were
made tillerS of the soil that our efforts
NAV be rewarded by the full accomplish
ments of the measures which justice de-
mands in the relief of an oppressed IN
dustrv, and the higher enlightenment o.
! its yOtarieS.