Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-07-20
THE NORTHWEST,
THE GRANGE.
ITS OBJECTS. TEACHINGS AND PRO.
PEssI0Ss.
A ln'titutI'a Worthy II Enaurassnsai.

ter and purposes avowed by this now
powerful order. Starting with the proc
lamation Of union by the strong and
faithful tie Of Agriculture. with a mutu.
al resolve to labor for the good of the or.
der, the country, and mankind. and in
dorsing the motto, In: essentials, unity,
In non-essentials liberty. in all things
charity the following specific objects
are sci forth as those characterizing the
order and by which the cause is to be ad.
vanced. namely:
To develop better and higher man.
hood and womanhood among those con-
stituting the order; to enhance the com.
forts and attractions Of home, and
strengthen the attachment. to their pur-
suits; to foster mutual understanding
and cooperation; to maintain inviolate
the laws. snd emulate each. other in hast.
ening the good time coming, to reduce
expenses, both individual and cooperate;
to buy less and produce more, in order
to make their farms self-sustaining; to
diversity crops, and crop no more than.
can be cultivated; to condense the weight
of exports, selling less in the bushel and
more on hoof and in fleece; to systematic
work, and calculate intelligently on
probabilities; to discontinue the credit
system, the mortgage system, the fashion
system, and every other system tending
to prodigality and bankruptcy to meet
together. talk together, work together,
buy and sell together, and in general act
together for mutual protection and ad.
vancement, as association may require;
10 avoid litigation as mnch as possible, by
arbitration in the grange; to constantly
strive to secure entire harmony, good will
and vital brotherhood. and to make the
order perpetual; to endeavor to suppress
personal, local, sectional and national
prejudices, all unhealthy rivalry, and all
selfish ambition.
Inregard to the principles and aims Of
this organization in respect to business
concerning which much public discus
sion has taken place-the statement is
made BY the order, authoritatively and
explicitly, that it aims to bring producers
and consumers, farmers and manufactur. |
ers. into the most direct and friendly re- |
lation possible, and, in order to fulfill this |
it is necessary that surplus of middle
men be dispensed with-not in any spirit
of unfriendliness to them, but because
such d class is not needed, their surplus
and exactions diminishing the raiser's
profits.
Emphatically disavowing any inten-
tion to wage aggressive warfare against
other interests. the grangers assert that
sal their acts and efforts, SO far as busi-
ness Is concerned, 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 and
economical contacts hence, they hold that |
transportation companies OF every kind
are necessary, that the interests of such
companies are intimately connected with
the welfare of the grange, harmonious
action being mutually advantageous
keeping in view one Of the primary bases
of action upon which the order rests,
namely,' that individual happiness de-
pends upon general prosperity.
To this end, the order advocates for
every state the increase, in every practi-
cable way, of all facilities for transport
ing cheaply to the seaboard, or between
home producers and consumers, all the
productions of the country, the fixed pur-
pose Of action being, in this respect, to
open out the channels in natures great
arteries, that the life-blood of commerce
may flow freely. While declaring them
selves as not the enemies Of railroads,
navigable and irrigating canals, nor Of
any corporations that will advance indus
trial welfare. nor yet Of any laboring
classes. the grangers are opposed to such
spirit and management Of any corpora
tion, or enterprise, as tend to oppress the |
people and rob them Of their just profit;
and, while not enemies to capital, they
oppose the tyranny Of monopolists, and
urge that the antagonism between capital |
and labor be removed by common con.
sent, and by enlightened statesmanship |
worthy of the nineteenth century. On |