Year: 1874

~ AV0t1u8s


In the National Grange the report
of the Committee on Resolutions
was presented and adopted unani-
mously. The resolutions are long
and set forth in detail the objects
and aims of the Patrons Of Husban-
dry as they have been heretofore
proclaimed in Grange Conventions
and through the press, and the es-
sential points are embodied in the
following extract from one of the res
olutions: "To developc better and
higher manhood and womanhood
among ourselves; TO enhance the
comforts and attractions Of our homes,
and strengthen our attachments to
our pursuits; to foster mutual under
standing and cooperation; to reduce
our expenses, both individual and in
corporate; to buy less and produce
more in order to make our farms self
supporting; to diversity our crops
and crop no more than we can culti-
vate, to condcnse the weight of our
exports, selling less in the bushel and
more on the hoof and fleece; to sys-
temize our work and calculate, intel
ligently on probabilities; to discontin-
uc the credit system, mortgage sys-
TEN, fashion system, and every other
system tending to prodigality and
bankruptcy"


The resolution further declares the
desire to bring farmers and manufac-
turers into more direct relations by
dispensing with middlemen; asserts
that they wage no warfare on other
interests, but, on the contrary, their
efforts tend to the benefit Of ell class
es; they recognize the necessity and
benefits Of transportation facilities
and favor their increase, and especial
ly, favor the improvement Of the nat
ural channels Of commerce; denounce
communism and agrarianism as for.
eign to the objects Of their order;
reiterate the opposition Of extended
monopoies and the oppression Of,
capital, and desire to see the antag-
onism between capital and labor re-
moved; and oppose high salaries,
high rates Of interest and exhorbitant
profits.


The ffth resolution is as follows:
1--WE emphatically and sincerely as
sert the truth taught in our organic
law that the Grange, National, State
or Subordinate, is not political or
party organization. No Grange, if
true to its obligations, can discuss
political or religious questions, nor
call political conventions, nor nomi-
nate candidates, nor even discuss
their merits in its meetings. Yet
the principles we teach underlie
all true politics and all true states
manship, and, if properly carried out,
will tend to purify the whole poiti.
cal atmosphere Of the country, for We
seek the greatest good to the great.
est number, but we must always
bear in mind that no one, by becom-
ing Grange member gives up that
inalienable right and duty which be-
longs to every American citizen to
take proper interest in the politics
Of his country; OH 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 par
ty to put down bribery, corruption
and trickery, and to see that none
but honest, competent, and faithful
men, who will unfinchingly stand by
our industrial interests, are nominat-
ed 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


They appeal to all the good citi.
zens Of all classes for support in their
efforts towards reform; declare that
| one of their cardinal principles is to
assist in relieving any suffering broth
er and finally proclaim that their pur-
pose is to inculcate the proper ap-
probation Of the abilities and sphere
| of woman.


A memorial to the Patrons of
Husbandry in the Cotton States,
presenting arguments in favor Of a
system of mixed Husbandry in the
South instead of devoting the entire


land and labor to the production oi
one crop, was also submitted and


adopted.