Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-11-01

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their position, and il may be that wlei
by new laws OF transfer, the middle clas
millionaires (who have so long aped an'
envied the class above them) are able 4
bid high enough for the land, the two
classes will change places; and we shal
see the old families crowding into Lon
don, and the merchants families fulfill
ing the ambition for which their shop
keeping fathers toiled, of becoming lordi
Of the land. 1t is doubtful whether the
changes Of the land from the old fami
lies to the ambitious pafvenues, of which
there are many instances already, will
be a happy one for the poor tenants and
laborers on such estates. The merchant
is in the habit Of regarding a thing he
has paid his gold for as belonging to
him absolutely. he can do what he
pleases with his own, and ii the plowing
up of a village will bring him any good
he will not hesitate much. But the old
aristocratic family, whatever its faults, is
bound fast by oldtraditions which will not
permit it to evict tenants at will, or TO
convert every old tenement into money.
They have inherited historical name
whose honor they must support. The
aristocracy is judged by a different
standard from other people, just as
clergymen ore. They are not, indeed,
expected to be more moral than other
people; on the contrary, conduct is con-
doned, licentiousness is smiled at, in
them, which would not be tolerated in
middle class society "You must con-
slider the indplgences amid which he has
been brought up, the temptations of his
position" etc. Such language is often
heard. But in his relations and deal
ngs with dependents, the physical con-
dition of the tenants and laborers on
his estate, the nobility are held to much
severer standard than the city employer
who has nothing whatever to do with the
workman who comes 10 him in the morn
ing and leaves him at night, and whose
place of abode even he is not supposed
to know.
1t tisthis peculiar relation OF the landed
aristocracy to the agricultural laborers
which is making the most important
element in the
AGaIcULTURAL STRIKES.
The old families feel somehow o sense of
ingratitude In the attitude of the labo
rers, because for ages there have been
passing from the mansion to the cottage
little favors and graiuites which have
rendered the relation in their eyes not
strictly commercial. But the plain fact
is that under the rise in prices in every
thing, and with the increase of the intel.
ligence and the wants OF the laborers,
the lady's cast-off dress, or toys for the
baby at the cottage, etc, have not ayailed
to keep the wolffrom the door The ex
pansion of English life has outgrown
the comprehension of the aristocracy.
The country squires and the clergy are
like unto them. They cannot, keep
abreast Of the world. Lately the Bishop
of Gloucester said he thought any man
who said that the agricultural laborers
of that district were underpaid ought to
be "duoked in horse-pond." The agri-
cultural laborers Of that district get an
average Of two dollars and half a week.
The Bishtp Of Gloucester gets over $500
a week. The London Times apollo
gizes for the Bishop by saying that the
remark was q post-rrandlal slip. of the
tongue. This can only mean that the
Bishop was drunk But even if
we allow a defence so satisfactory
TO the Bishop, we must remember
the proverbial way in which, when the
wine is in the truth comes out. The
Bishop represents his class-the lords,
the sqnires, the wealthy country gentle
men; and these have never got much be-
yond the Middle Agea. | actually heard
one of these old lords remark indig-
nantly that he found in his family books
that be was giving twice as much for
labor as bis ancestors did hundred or
two years ago. The ti,no to which he
alluded was when q shilling could buy a
sheep The Bishop, third ip rank in
England, is appiauded by 2 company Of
aristocrats for saying that Canon uirdle-
stone ought to be ducked in horsepond
for declaring that Ten shillings a week is
too little for a Iaborer who has 8 family
Such an incident could not have occurred
if il we're not, to large extent, true that
the aristocr4ts Of Nnglana have their
ideas in one age and their interests and
duties in another. OF this their wretched
laboFers have nov undertaken to remind
them. The Agricultural Union has nog
been thoroughly organized throughout
the most important counties. 1t has
succeedei il rsisiug the wages every
where. The landed gentry ape fairly in
the great nil Of the eeehomieal laws,
which can nat haY before the post Illus
trious names, oF bend beioEe the proud
est claims Of privilege. Ai