Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-19
important amendment to the Constitution

Il tdut 0kuCUuIuGul u Tic CONSTITUTION
for your ratification or rejection.
Amend Article XII. Strike out the
words "religious" or political where
they occur in the first line of said Article
and insert in lieu thereof the words
"Sectarian" or ''Partizan." If adopted
the article will read: "Sectarian or parti-
zan questions will not be tolerated as
subjects of discussion in the work of the
Order, and no political or religious tests
for membership shall be applied" This
amendment passed the National Grange
by vote of thirty-One yeas to five nays.
1t was adopted in order to give more
liberal and intelligent construction of our
| Constitution so as to admit of the dis
cussiOn of questions of political economy,
but with no intention of ever espousing
the cause of any political party or Great
ing partizan division among our mem-
bers.
Politics in a broad, dignified and in
telligent discussion, cOmmends itself to
the consideration of the Patrons of Hus-
bandry and all farmers associations.
The purpose should be Invested of all
party bias, and only those questions
should be considered which primarily
affect the best interests of the husband
man, and in such spirit as will conduce
to peace and harmony. "POlitics" does
not necessarily mean "party" any more
than religion means sectarianism. The
great principles upon which the christian
religion is based, a belief in God, aHd
the truths of His written word, are sub
jects which, when properly considered
and discussed bring us nearer to knOwl-
edge Of higher life. The more we
reflect upon and discuss great moral
questions, the higher we build toward
Heaven. Let not the fear of sectarianism
which is simply human invention, in
terfere with an active and hearty CO.
operation in all those grand principles of
goodness, benevOlence, temperance and
charity which illustrate Christian char
acter and exemplifies that righteousness
which not only exalts the individual but
the Nation. Let us build temple for
ourselves and our noble Order on that
broad and unselfish basis which the Bible
unfOlds, and let the continued presence
of that book before us on our altars, so
influence us in our discussion, that all
those elements of character, which bear
the fruit of happiness, contentment,
brotherly love, and the hope of immortal
life may be ours.
There is much more danger of un-
pleasantness and discord in the Grange,
arising from the introduction of ques-
tions upon which political parties are
divided and which largely enter into
party platforms. All party and partizan
questions should be sedulOusly avoided
and only those practical questions which
tend to build up and place us as individ-
uals and state on higher plane Of
civilization should be considered. Agri-
cultural education, good morals, loyalty
to Government, security to life and prop
erty, universal happiness of the people,
temperance, religious instruction, mate
rial advancement of the State, are ques-
tiOns which should command universal
attention, and our earnest effort at all
times. Great questions of political econ
omy which affect the prosperity of all
industrisl pursuits as the tariff and the
currency should be discussed in broad
and dignified manner, free from party
bias and extreme radical argument.
The efforts that consolidated wealth
has been making for the past several
years to control the legislation of the
Nation and some of the states, deserves
the careful consideration of those who
respect equal rights, just laws and free
government. Those who cultivate the
soil never have, and probably never can
accumulate large possessions. Inde-
pendence is easily gained, but colossal
| fortunes are never realized. MOnOpOlies,
speculation, and combination by syndi-
Gates formed to make corners in the
necessities of life necessarily encroach
upon the rights of other pursuits, and in
ordinate gains thereby must practically
be taken from the pockets of that large
class who cultivate the soil. The National
tariff, patent laws, state corporations
and railroads are necessary for the de-
mands of civilized life, but they should
be so regulated by law, as not to tax the
people in a burdensome and unequal
manner. l de not desire to sound the
words of unnecessary alarm, but be
vigilant l have full faith in the intelli-
gence and virtue Of the American people,
that all present apparent danger and ir-
regularities will be regulated by wise
laws, but the danger can only be averted
by an intelligent discussion and the
power of an untrammelled ballot. In
order to bear equally and justly the bur-
den of Government the question of taxa
ton should receive the careful considers
ton of every farmer.
The mighty revolution in business pur-
suits has entirely changed the basis on
which property should be taxed. For
merly taxable property was almost en-
tirely represented by farms, cattle, and
the production of the soil. 1t was all
visible as now. Art, the sciences, and
a progressive civilization have brought
to the front numerous and new product
i've sources of wealth. Large fortunes
are easily acquired by these new forms
of developing individual wealth. Every
species Of property that receive the pro-
lection of law from Government should
bear its just proportion of the burden of
taxation. In our State there are en-
gagged in agriculture SO, $50 of our pop
nlation, and las, 900 in other pursuits.
This is q great change from former times.
The manufacturing, now representing
n, ,662 persons will soon take the lead in
numbers. We should rejoice at the in
PRODUCTION of so many new industries,
and welcome the introductionof consoli-
dated capital for manufacturing pur-
poses, for it brings better markets and q
demand for the productions of the farm.
} But these new sources of wealth should