THE FARMER'S WAR AGAINST MONOPOLIES. 543 







5. We especially and sincerely assert the oft-repeated 

 truth taught in our organic law, that the Grange, Na- 

 tional, State, or subordinate, is not a political or party 

 organization. No Grange, if true to its obligations, can 

 discuss political or religious questions, nor call political 

 conventions, nor nominate candidates, nor even discuss 

 their merits in its meetings. Yet the principles we 

 teach underlie all true politics, all true statesmanship, 

 and if properly carried out will tend to purify the whole 

 political atmosphere of our country. For we seek the 

 greatest good to the greatest number, but we must 

 always bear, in mind that no one by becoming a Patron 

 of Husbandry gives up that inalienable right and duty 

 which belongs to every American citizen, to take a pro- 

 per interest in the politics of his country. On the con- 

 trary, 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. It is his duty 

 to do all he can in his own party to put down bribery, 

 corruption and trickery ; to see that none but compe- 

 tent, faithful and honest men, who will unflinchingly 

 stand by our industrial interests, are nominated for all 

 positions. It should always characterize every Patron 

 of Husbandry that the offices should seek the man and 

 not the man the office. We acknowledge the broad 

 principle that difference of opinion is no crime, and hold 

 that progress towards truth is made by differences of 

 opinion, while the fault lies in bitterness of controversy. 

 We desire a proper equality, equity, and fairness, pro- 

 tection 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 



