Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-08-24
Contributions to this department should be ad'
dressed to J. BLAIR RsAn, Clsarhold, Pa,
DGcLARAUoy or PURPOSES

MANHOOD among OufselNesj 10 en-
hance the comforts and attractions of
our homes and strengthen our attach.
ment to our pursuits; TO foster mu-
tual understanding and cooperation
to maintain inviolate our laws, and to
emulate each other in labor to haston
the good time coming; to reduce our
expenses, both individual and cofpor
ate TO buy less and produce more, in
order to made our farms self sustain.
ing; to diversity our crops, and crop
no more than we can cultivate to con.
dense the weight Of our exports, sell.
ing less in the bnshel and more on
hoof and in feece-less ia lint and
more in warp and woof to systoma.
tize our work and calculate intelligent.
| ly on probabilities to discountenance
the credit system, the mortgage sys.
tenn, the fashion system, and every
other systom tending TO prodigality
and bankruptcy. We propose meet.
ing together, talking together, work
ing together, buying together, selling
together, and in general acting to.
gether for our mutual protection and
advancement, as occasion may require.
We shall avoid litigation as much as
possible by arbitration in the Grange.
We shall constantly strive to secure
entire harmony, good will, vital broth
erhood among ourselves, and to make
our order perpetual We shall earn.
estly endeavor to suppress personal,
local, sectional and national preiudices,
all unhealthy rivalry, all selfish am
bition. Faithful adherence TO these
principles will insure our mental,
moral, social and material advance.
ment.
1. For our business interests, we de.
sire to bring producers and consum.
ers, farmers and manufacturers, into
the most direct and friendly relations
possible. Hence, VIC must dispense
with surplus of middle men, not that
we are 'unlriendly TO them, but we do
not need them. Their surplus and
their exactions diminish our profits.
We wage no aggressive warfare
against any other interests whatever
On the contrary, all our acts, and all
our efforts so far as business is con.
cerned, are not only for the benefit of
the producer and consumer, but also
for all other interests that tend to
bring these two parties into speedy
aud economical contact Hence we
hold that transportation companies of
every kind are necessary TO our sue.
cess, and their interests are intimately
connected with our interests, and har-
monious action is mutually advanta-
geous; keeping in view the first sen.
tence in our declaration of principles
of action, that "Individual happiness
depends upon general prosperity we
proclaim our settled conviction that
we cannot expect to help ourselves in
any form that involves the injury of
others. We shall, therefore. advo ate
for every State the increase. in every
practicable way, Of all facilities for
transporting cheaply to the seaboard,
or between home producers aud con
sumers, all the productions of our
country. We adopt it ms our fixed
purpose TO "open out the channels in
natures great arteries that the life.
blood Of commerce may flow freely"
We are not enemies Of railroads. navi-
gable and irrigating canals, nor of any
corporation that will advance our in.
dustrial interests, nor Of any laboring
classes. In our noble order there is
no communism, no aggrarianism. We
are opposed to such spirit and man.
agement of any corporation or enter.
prise as tends to oppress the people
and rob them of their Just profits. We
are not enemies to capital, but VIC op.
pose tho tyranny Of monopolies. We
long to see the antagonlsm between
capital and labor removed by common
consent, and by an enlighted states
manship worthy Of the nineteenth cen.
tury. We are opposed to excessive
salaries, high rates of interest, and ex.
orbitant per cent. profits in trade.
They greatly increase our burdens,
and do not bear a proper proportion
to the profits Of producers. We de.
sire only seli-protection and the pro.
lection of every true interest of our
land by legitimate transactions, legiti.
mate trade, and Legitimate profits.
We shall advance the cause of edu.
cation among ourselves and for our
children, by all just means within our
power We especially advocate for
our agricultural and industrial col.
leges that practical agriculture, domes.
tic science, and all the arts which
adorn the home, be taught in their
courses Of study.
.. We emphatically and sincerely
assert the oft-repeated truth taught in
our organic law, that the Grange, ma.
tional, State, or subordinate, is not a
political or party organization. No
Grange, If true TO its obligations, can
discuss political or religions questions,
nor call political conventions, nor nom.
mate candidates, nor even discuss
their merits in its meetings Yet the
principles we teach underlie all true
craftsmanship, and, properly carried
out, will tend to purify the whole 20.
litical atmosphere of our country; for
we seek the greatest good to the great.
est number, We must always bear in
mind that no one by becoming Pa.
tron of Husbandry gives up that in.
alienabIe right and duty which be.
longs to every American citizen--to
take proper interest in the politics
Of his country. On the contrary, il is
right for every member to do all in his
power legitimately to influence for
good the action of any political party
to which he belongs. II is his duty
to do all he can in his own party to
put down bribery, corruption and
triokery to see that none but compe.
tent, faithful and honest men who will
unhinchingly stand by our industrial
interests are nominated for all posi-.
tions OF trust and TO have carried out
the principle which should always
characterize every Grange member,
that the office should seek the man. and
not the man the office.
We acknowledge the broad prinoi- |
v.la tLae A.