Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-07-27
DECLARATION OF PURPOSES.
The Platform Of the Grange.
Adopted By the National Grange
at It's Seventh Annual Session.


PREAMBLE.
Profoundly impressed with the
truth that the National Grange of the
United States should definitely pro-
claim TO the world its general objects,
we hereby unanimously make this
Declaration of Purposes of the Pa
irons of Husbandry.
GENERAL OBJECTS.
l. United by the strong and faith
full tie of Agriculture, we mutually
resolve TO labor for the good of our
Order, our country and mankind.
2. We heartily endorse the motto:
"In essentials, unity; in non-essen-
tials, liberty; in all things, charity"
SPECIFIC OBJECTS.
3. We shall endeavor to advance
our cause by laboring TO accomplish
the following objects:
10 develop better and higher man
hood and womanhood among our
selves. 10 enhance the comforts and
attractions of our homes, and
strengthen our attachments to our
pursuits. To foster mutual under
standing and cooperation. 10 main
tain and inviolate our laws, and to
emulate each other in labor TO hasten
the good time coming. To reduce
our expenses, both individual and
corporate. TO buy less and produce
more, in order to make our farm self
sustaining. TO diversity our crops,
and crop no moro than we can cult
vate. To condense the weight of our
exports, selling less in the bushel, and
more oil loof and in fleece. 10 sys-
tematize our work, and calculate ill.,
telligently on probabilities.
To discountenance the credit sys-
TEN, the mortgage system, the fashion
system, and every other system tend
ing 10 prodigality and bankruptcy.
We propose meeting together,
selling together, and in general act
ing together for our mutual protec-
ton and advancement, as occasion
may require. We shall avoid litiga-
ton as much as possible by arbitra-
ton in the Grange. We shall con-
stantly strive to secure entire harmo-
NY, good will, vital brotherhood,
among ourselves; and TO make our
Order perpetual. We shall earnestly
endeavor 10 suppress personal, local,
sectional and national prejudices, all
unhealthy rivalry, all selfish ambi-
ton. Faithful adherence to these
principles will insure our mental,
moral, social and material advance
ment.
BUSINESS RELATIONS.
A. For our business interests, we
desire TO bring producers and con-
sumers, farmers and manufacturers
into the most direct and friendly re-
lations possible. Hence we must dis
pense with surplus of middemen,
not that we are unfriendly to them,
but we do not need them. Their
surplus and their exactions diminish
cur profits.
We wage no aggressive warfare
against any other interest 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
and economical contact. Hence, we
hold, that transportation companies
OF every Kind are necessary to our
success, that their interests are init
mately connected with our interests.
and harmonious action is mutually
advantageous; 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 in every
practicable way of all the facilities
for transporting cheaply to the sea-
board, or between home producers
and consumers, all the productions of
our country. We adopt it as our
fixed purpose 10 "open out the chan
nels in natures great arteries, that
the life blood of commerce may flow
freely"
We are not enemies of railroads,
navigable and irrigating canals, nor
Of amy corporation that will advance
our industrial interests, nor of any
laboring classes.
In our noble Order there is no
communism, no agrarianism.
We are opposed to such spirit and
and management of ANY corporation
or enterprise as tends to Cypress the
people and rob them of their Just
profits. We are not enemies to capi-
tai, but we oppose the tyranny of
monopolies. We long 10 see the an
tagonism between capital and labor
removed by common consent, and by
al enlightened craftsmanship worthy
OF The nineteenth century. We are
opposed 10 excessive salaries, high
rates Of interest, and exhorbitant Der
cent. profits in trade. They greatly
increase our burdens, and do not bear
proper proportion TO the profits of
producers. We desire only self-pro.
lection and the protection of every
true interest of our land by Legitimate
transactions, legitimate trade and le
gitimatc profits.
EDUCATION.
We shall advocate the cause of ed
ucation among ourselves and for ou
children, by all just means within
our power. We especially advocat,
for our agricultural and indusira
colleges, that practical agriculture
domestic science and all the art
which adorn The home, be taught il
their course of study.
THE GRANGE NOT PARTISAN.
g. We empliatically and sincerel'
assert the olt-repeated truth laugh
ia our organic law, that the Grange