Year: 1874

tons, legitimate trade, and Legitimate
profits.


"We shall advance the cause Of edu.
cation among ourselves and for our chill
dren by all just means within our power.
We especially advocate for our agricul-
tural industrial colleges that practical
agriculture. domestic science, and all the
other arts which adorn the home, be
taught in their course of study.


"Fiith-we emphatically and sincere
ly assert the oft.repcated truth taught in
our organic law, that the Grange, ma
tional. State, or subordinate. il not po-
litical or party organization, No Grange
If true to is obligation. can discuss po-
litical or religious questions, nor call po.
lltical conventions, nor nominate candi-
dates. nor even discuss their merits in


its meetings. Yet the principles we
teach underlie all true politics, all trI'e
craftsmanship, and, II properly carried
out, will tend to purify the whole politi-
cal atmosphere Of our country for We
seek the greatest good to the greatest
number.


but we must always bear 1t in mind
that no one, by becoming a Grange
member; gives up the right and duty
which belongs to every American citizen,
to take a proper interest in the politics
of his country. On the contrary, it 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. 1t is his duty to do all he
can in his own party to put down brib-
cry, corruption and trickery to see that
none but competent, faithful and honest
men, who will unhichingly stand by our
industrial interests are nominated for all
positions of trust; and to have carried
out the principles which should always
characterize every Grange member, that
the Office should seek the man, and not
the man the office.


"We acknowledge the broad princi-
pie that difference of opinion is no crime,
and hold that progress toward truth Is
made by differences of opinion while the
fruit lies in bitterness Of controversy.
We desire aproper equality, equity. and
fairness protection for the weak restraint
upon the strong in short, justly distrib-
uted burdens, and justly distributed pow
er. These are American ideas, the very
essence of American independence and
to advocate the contrary is unworthy of
the sons and daughters of an American
republic.


I'VE cherish the belief that sectional
ism is and of right should be dead and
buried with the past. Our work Is for
the present and The future.


SIN our agricultural brotherhood and
its purposes we shall recognize no North,
no South, no East, no West. 1t is re-
served by every patron, as the right of
freeman to affiliate with any party that
will best cafry out his principles.


"Sixth-Ours being peculiarly farm
ers' institution, we cannot admit all to
our ranks. Many are excluded by the
nature Of our organization, not because
they are professional men, or artisans, or
laborers, but because they have not
sufficiently direct interest in tilling or pas
turing the soil or may have some inter
est in conflict with our purposes. But we
appeal to all good citizens for their cordi-
al cooperation to assist in our eflorts to-
ward reform, that We may eventually re-
move from our midst the last vestige Of
tyranny and corruption. We hail the
general desire for fraternal harmony,
equitable compromise and earnest coop
Grafton, as an omen of our future sue
cess.


"Seventh-It shall be an abiding prin.
ciple with us to relieve any of our op-
pressed and suffering brotherhood. by
any means at our command.


"Last, but not least, we proclaim il
among our purposes to inculcate a proper
appreciation of the abilities and sphere
of woman, as is indicated by admitting
her to membership and po,iIion in our
order Imploring the continued assist.
ance of our DIVINE MASTER to guide US
in our work, we here pledge ourselves to |
faithful and harmonious labor for all fu-
ture time, to return by our united efforts
to the wisdom, justice, fraternity, and
political purity OF our ioreiathers."


THE COTTON STATES.


A memorial to the Patrons Of Hus-
bandry in the Cotton States was also
presented and unanimously adopted. 1t
is argument in favor of mixed husband
ry in the South, instead of expending
the energies of the people raising