110 THE ORDER OF PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. 



positions of trust; and to have carried out the principle which should 

 always characterize every Patron, that the office should seek the 

 man, and not the man the office. We acknowledge the broad prin 

 ciple that difference of opinion is no crime, and hold that &quot; progress 

 toward truth is made by difference of opinion,&quot; while &quot;the fault 

 lies in bitterness of controversy.&quot; &quot;We desire a proper equality, 

 equity, and fairness; protection for the weak, restraint upon the 

 strong ; in short, justly distributed burdens and justly distributed 

 power. 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. We cherish the belief that 

 sectionalism is, and of right should be, dead and buried with the 

 past. Our work is for the future. In our agricultural brotherhood 

 and its purposes, we shall recognize no North, no South, no East, 

 no West. It is reserved by every patron, as the right of a freeman, 

 to affiliate with any party that will best cany out his principles. 



6. Ours being peculiarly a farmers institution, we cannot admit 

 all to our ranks. Many are excluded by the nature of our organiza 

 tion, not because they are professional men, or artisans, or laborers, 

 but because they have not a sufficient direct interest in tilling the 

 soil, or may have some interest in conflict with our purposes. But 

 we appeal to all good citizens for their cordial co-operation to assist 

 in our efforts toward reform, that we may eventually remove from 

 our midst the last vestige of tyranny and corruption. We hail the 

 general desire for fraternal harmony, equitable compromises, and 

 earnest co-operation, as an omen of our future success. 



7. It shall be an abiding principle with us to relieve any of our 

 oppressed and suffering brotherhood by any means at our command. 

 Last, but not least, we proclaim it among our purposes to inculcate 

 a proper appreciation of the abilities and sphere, of woman, as is in 

 dicated by admitting her to membership and position in our Order. 

 Imploring the continued assistance of our Divine Master to guide 

 us in our work, we here pledge ourselves to faithful and harmonious 

 labor for all future time, to return by our united efforts to the 

 wisdom, justice, fraternity, and political purity of our forefathers. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE NATIONAL GEANGE OF THE ORDER OF 

 PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. 



PREAMBLE. 



Human happiness is the acme of earthly ambition. Individual happiness de 

 pends upon general prosperity. 



The prosperity of a nation is in proportion to the value of its productions. 



The soil is the source from whence we derive all that constitutes wealth , with 

 out it we would have no agriculture, no manufactures, no commerce. Of all the 

 material gifts of the Creator, the various productions of the vegetable world are of 

 the first importance. The art of agriculture is the parent and precursor of all arts, 

 and its products the foundation of all wealth. 



^ The productions of the earth are subject to the influence of natural laws, inva 

 riable and indisputable; the amount produced will consequently be in proportion 

 to the intelligence of the producer, and success will depend upon his knowledge 

 ol the action of these laws, and the proper application of their principles. 



Hence, knowledge is the foundation of happiness. 



