The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-10-10
Joseph Arch.
Erom ths cincinna,i commerriai.


| laborer on a farm.
He has been compared to Richard
Golden, and there is a strong National
/ resemblance in their characters. Both
are sincere and devoted men, absorbed
each in his one aim. But Colder
sought to free the British masses from
high priced food only; and without in
/ ducing the workman to leave either shoE
or field, he succeeding in bringing tC
his home cheaper food from abroad
which in return gave him also bettel
wages. The condition of the Fnglisf
artisan class has changed wonderfully
since 1876, but the agricultural labor
ers, particularly those living in thc
south of England, where no manufac
deplorahle condition of poverty and ig
norance. They could obtain only tbs
lowest wages, and their condition wai
altogether hopeless. The laborer who
had reached moderate age had no ex
pectation of otherwise spending his lat
ter days, when he could no longer work
than in the poor-house, dependent fol
his daily bread on the miserable chari
ty doled out by the law. He was the
picture of dependency. He had nc
comfort in the present nor hope in the
future; and this condition had the nat.
ural effect upon his character, which
produced supineness and abasement
not to be found in any other class Of
Englishmen.
A marvellous change, however, has
lately taken place in the agricultural
districts, which has been brought about
largely by the agency of Mr.. Arch
The laborers have begun 10 read, reflect,
and take counsel together, touching their
condition. They have begun to hope
and work for better things, and happier
circumstances. They have a newspaper
of their own, the LGborers' Union Chroa-
icle, which has a very large circulation.
They have established night schools,
and fund for their Union, and to give
temporary assistance to such as can get
no work. They have transferred, at the
expense of the Union, many unmarried
men, laborers in parishes where they
were in superabnndance, to more thinly-
peopled regions, and where wages were
more permanent and higher. For the
first time in his life the laborer can now
look the squire and the parson fairly in
the face. He is a power in the land,
and he knows it. The agitation has al
ready done more than any thing that has
transpired for many centuries, to raise
the peasant in his own estimation. The
energy and singleness of purpose with
which the plowmen and carriers have
taken up the question of rnion. gives
assurance that they will ultimately
work out their own emancipation. They
have begun to seek better wages in diff.
ferent parishes; it may be they will
move from the country also.
1t is to see whether America offers
this Canaan to English serfs Joseph
Arch now visits our shores. His own
words, uttered at great meeting held
in meadow in Berkshire, England, give
US the objects of his present visit:
"If he found there a home for the ag.
ricultural laborers of England, he
should tell them so, but if he found thai
farmers in America were men who want
ed both sides Of the bargain, and that
the crows (clergy?) were as black there
as here, he should advise them to stay
in England. If he found America wal
the true home of the workingman
where the son of the poor man could si
down by the children of the rich, write
on the same slate, and read out of tn,
same book, and where they would hav,
full electoral power, he would stand OF
her shores until he had drained the serfi
out of England, in order that they
might settle in the fruitful field of Amer
lea with its ninety millions of acres ye
untitled; and he would do this until th'
farmers of England were made to Bit
1 Tic uuSIy II ECAucc0 W tACab t1CA
laborers like men. He hoped, in les
than twelve months, to make the farm
ers of England know the worth of ,
man. Although he was of hrmbl,
birth, and had only been an agriculture
laborer himself, he had English blood
and an English heart hsd human feel
ings, and he would not see six hundred
thousand tillers of the soil in a state o
slavery, and Knocked by being told the.
were free. He would traverse Apleric;
from one end to the other, if he lost hi
life, in trying to raise the English laborer
and would die gladly if he could bu
bring the laborer into state of free
DOM"
His remarks were received with tn
most vociferous cheering, and not tn
slightest opposition was manifested.
1t will be seen there is something
more here than the mere question o
wages. The agricultural laborer yearn
for political and social equality. Highe
wages may uc BlNeh W hAiAiJ wAiAAHRiy
grudgingly, but social equality never
at least not for many generations yet t
come and go. The old feudal system
that has obtained since the Norman con
quest will not SO easily be eradicated
Emigration on small scale would be
relief to England, but in suca masse
as Mr.. Arch threatens it would be
serious matter. 1t is the toll of the Ia
Dor that gives the land its value, tn
landowner his wealth, and the countr
no small proportion of its prosperity
If Mr.. Arch's visit here should with
draw any large proportion of tn
youngest and strongest of England's ag
ricultural class, leaving only the oldes
and most enfeebled to work the hom
fields, very different state of feelin
would obtain among the employin
classes than is now to be found. An
what if the landlords and farmers wer
themselves obliged to dig and trench an
hold the plow, or else leave their field
untilledg But it will hardly. come {