ANNUAL REPORT—MISCELLANEOUS. 
5 1 
“5. We emphatically and sincerely assert the oft-repeated truth taught in 
our organic law, that the grange, national, state or subordinate, is not a polit. 
ical 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 meeting; yet the principles 
we teach underlie all true statesmanship, and, if properly carried out, will 
tend to purity the whole political atmosphere of our country, for we must 
bear in mind that no one by becoming a grange member gives up that in¬ 
alienable 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 ot 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 competent, faithful and honest men, who will unflinchingly 
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; the office should seek the man, and not the man the office. 
We acknowledge the broad principle that difference of opinion is no crime; 
that progress towards truth is made by difference of opinion, while the fault 
lies in bitterness of controversy. We desire a proper equality, equity and 
fairness; protection for the weak and 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 con¬ 
trary 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 bur¬ 
ied with the past. Our work is for the present and future. In our agricul¬ 
tural brotherhood and its purposes we shall recognize no North, no South, 
no East, no West. It is reserved by every Patron, as his right as a freeman, 
to affiliate with a party that will best carry out his principles. 
“0. Ours being peculiarly a farmers’ institution, we cannot admitall to our 
ranks. Many are excluded by the nature of our organization, and not be¬ 
cause they are professional men, or artisans, or laborers, but because they 
have not a sufficient direct interest in tilling or pasturing 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 
compromise, aud earnest co-operation as an omen of our future success. 
“7. It shall be an abiding principle with us to relieve any of our oppress¬ 
ed 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 indicated by admitting her to 
membership and position in our order. Imploring the continued assistance 
of our Divine Master to guide us in our w r ork, we here pledge ourselves to 
•faithfully and harmoniously labor for all future time, to return by our united 
effort to the wisdom justice, fraternity and political purity of our forefathers.” 
