The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-04-25
aThe Strike In Arcadia"

This is the fanciful title given BY an Eng
lish journalist to o strike which has taken
Mace among the agricultural laborers OF
Warwicksbire, q county where comfort and
happiness seem to reign supreme. But the
farm laborer, to whose ploddlpg toll the re-
fgion yves its fascinating aspect, has to live
and support his family on between ten and
twelve shillings two and half and three dol
lars) q week; and yet an experienced o.
server SAYS that the condition OF the War
wickshire farm hand is better than that Of
the agricultural laborer in any other part OF
England. The Warwickshire men, how
ever, demanded sixteen sbillings flour dol.
lars) a week, and failing to receive that sum,
promptly organized themselves into an Aggri-
cultural Union, on the plan OF the trades
unions which Charles Reade has described.
One Joseph Arch, a well-to-do cottager, who
has raised himself from the even humbler
position Of a farm hand, seems to be the
leader. The London Telegraph sums up the
matter thus:
SAT present In South Warwlckshire and
other counties full of large estates, three
classes of persons live on the land-the land
lord, who does nothing: the farmer, who IN
vests his capital, and gives bis superlntehd-
ence; the laborer, who does the physical
work. Every quarter of wheat or load OF
potatoes raised from the soil Is sold for the
pronr of all three-the landlord, the farmer
and the laborer each taking a share. What
share, Well, each takes as much as he can
get. The landlord exacts from eager Compel
itors as high q rent as a solvent tenant can
punctually pay. The farmer keeps rent and
wages as low as he can, go as to realize fair
interest on his capital and ample remunera-
ton for his own services. The laoorer mas
hitherto been content with pay that just keeps
above starvation point. The South War
wickshlre strike Ia simply an attempt on the
part OF the laborers to obtain a larger shG-eo OF
the agrarian profits"
From the various reports 10 the British
papers, it would certainly appear That the
English agricultural laborer is losing that
respect for equality folks which has ever
been among his marked characteristics.
One writer gives an account Of a meeting at
Arch's cottage. Arch stood at the foot OF a
large beech tree. "On the reporters table
ssbelow him were lamps and candles, which
s'shed their light upwards on the circle OF
sfaces, and the noble hoary branches that
ssspread their arms above them. Lady
s.Florence Herbert sat by, and as her hus-
"bsnd woke the echoes from surrounding
'houscs, the eager eyes and earnest faces,
enlightened by the Pickering lamps made
ssquite a fine picture. Mr.. Herbert spoke OF
sthe advantages Of shaking themselves free
sfrom the shame Of charity; but when he
.talluded to the boosted beef and blankets
ssand soup OF the farmers, there were loud
daughters and cries Of we should loike to
"'see un.' Charity, pretty cold charity and
80 FORTH" This was not very respectful to
the "lady" and her 'lord," nor to the char
ity system so much in vogue among the
weather. classes of the rural population OF
England.
Yet it does not appear that the agricultu-
raj laborers are i%ll-disposed. That they
should rise at all, after having for centuries
lived In a state which in all but name is ao-
solute serfdom, is undoubtedly surprising to
the conservative squires of old England;
but certainly their demands are mild enough,
and they doubtless will obtain them. Their
most violent popular song is described as q
''Union March" sung in glee fashion thus {:
PaIMUs.-Then learners be woise and treat
men well
SEcUSDus.-They'l work well for you; you
knaw they wull
TERTTus.-Coamxdin dine with us hearty The song
to swell!
OuARTUs. IT'S good to jine the Ynny on.
0MNEs. IT'S good TO jine the Yuny.on.
There is certainly nothing very revolution
airy in this.