Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-17
Largest Circulation in the District
Reading Matter on Every Page.
WASHINGTON CITY:
March "a, 1879.


An article in Tie GaIary for April, by Justin
Mccarthy, the English writer, is Of current
interest as dealing with a reform question
partly underlying the great liberal movement
by which Gladstone has been, and doubtless
will be. sustained in Office. The subject of the
article is Joseph Arch and the New Enamel
patton in England" Joseph Arch was until
lately an agricultural labOrer in Warwickshire
and also a lay preacher. who by his superior
intellige nee, good character. and effective way
Of talking, had acquired great influence
among his fellows. About a year ago the rural
isbOrers OF that part of England began to show
signs OF active discomfort with their lot in Ise
which was hardly 10 he wondered at in view
Of the fact that they were receiving from two
AID half TO three dollars a week only, and
that after the weeks bread and Goals had been
paid for, there was left for the purchase of
meat, groceries. clothes, AMI all the many little
Decessaries of life, the remarkable sum of a
little more than one dollar. 10 was stated By a
cOTresl ondent of the London Ns1rs, who was
sent down to investigate the condition OF the
agricultural labOrers. that the daily dinner for
eight persons, at a labOrer's cottage where he
bearded consisted usually Of some potatoes and
salt, and one herring into eight portions.
The reform bill, which gave the ballot to the
wOrkingmen i'm cities, left the rural population
unenfra1ehised, for the reason that they were
deemed too ignorant to make any use of a vote
The Injustice of the discrimination was, how
ever, strongly pressed upon the government;
and Mr. Gladstone frankly acknowledged last
session that il would be impossible to allow
things to continue long in their present anoma-
lOus condition Voice has now been given to
this discomfort of the rural laborers through the
agency OF Joseph Arch. They have banded
themselves together. under his leadership, to
the number of several thousands, in imitation
the trades uuiOns have al ,,,,r
dollars a week wages. This seems very made
quate wages to enable a man to support himself
and family, but Ii appears that the Tory land
lords, and the farmers who lease the land from
them are highly indignant at this effort OF the
lsborers to better their condition. and declare
that the proposed increase of wages will ruin
them. They hold up their hands in horror
moreover, that the labOrers should dare
think of combining for self-protection. and
declare that the country Is on the brink
of a revolution. Mr. Disraeli has always been
the champion OF the landed or Tory interest, and
he has cOntended most stoutly that the heart
TendinG stories of the condition Of the British
labOTeTs were all mOOn>hine, and that their
situation was just what it should be. However,
the labOrers had got IL into their heads that
their condition was not quite so sunny AMI
ATcadan the Tory orators represented, and
they proceeded 10 .'agitate" for more privileges
received aid Of various kinds from such men a.
Edward Jenkens. author OF "Ginx'S Baby"
etc. Mt. AubeTton Herbert, 80 aristOcrat repu-
bIican,-' Sir Charles Dixie and others, apd ad-
yanced in their claims till they demanded
political rights, "a well "a better means Of a
livelihood; while some among them have begun
TO agitate for reform that shall enable them
TO become owners of the soil they till. All
through this last winter the matter has been
discussed in London. and conferences and meet
ings held there by the representatives of MIR.
Aroh's class and the leaders of the radicals.
The result viii doubtless be that the agricultural
iaborers will get better wages and the right OF
franchise; and that the great liberal party of
the country will receive a very decided acces-
sion Of voting strength at the same time.
Under the civil service rules the female clerks
in the employ of the government have an equal
chance with the men IN the race for promotion
A few years ago no women held even first-class
elerkships, and although many did the work of
clerk Of their grade. they received but 500
Per year. The utter injustice of this has but
just been acknowledged. Henceforth. howey-
eT, their appointment or promotion will depend
wholly upon their merit, and their sex will not
he disparagement TO them as it has been here
tofore- In the list of recent promotions in the
Internal Revenue Office, printed in The STAR
>
appear of this number five promoted from
hTst al 200 to second 400 class: one TO
third 81 ,eGo) class, and enc to fourth (SI sOO)
Class The number of successful competitors in
the examination was twenty-four, and the fact
'hat OF This number seven were women, speaks
well fOt their clerical ability, a. large majori-
fy Of the competitors were men
~SO>-
The trades-unions have encountered opposi-
ton from new quarter. Archbishop Purcell,
OF CINCINNATI, has warned his congregation that
no Catholic may connect himself with any trade
union or kindred society that makes use of an
oath in its initiation. The objection does not an
pear to be to the purposes of the unions, but to
Inc secret, oath-bOund feature OF these organi-
zatioAs. On this score the Catholic clergy have
an IKE manner forbidden their focks to join the
Masonic, Odd Fellows, Fenian and other secret
orders There seems to be some murmuring
amongst the Catholic wOrkmen i'm Cincinnati
in regard to this notification BY Archbishop
furceli. They say that their labor unions have
nothing 70 do with religion; that the oath is |
quite unobjectionable; and consequently that
the Archbishop is travelling out of his line of
duty in meddling with their business affairs.
The action of Gov. Dix, of New York, in re-
tuSing to commute the sentence of Foster the |
'ar-hook murderer, is sustained by the thought
iul portion OF the presseverywhere. The World
anticipates good results from the execution OF |
lie law, and saws:
" The disorderly classes ought TO Law Fosters |
iaie TO heart as "A terrible warning. 1T Is per-
hays unfortunate that his case has excited 30 |
much attention, and that the decision has hung
20 ong in doubt There il not a rough i'm New
York who has not watched il with Keen per
s"hal Interest. The hopes and sympathies of |
his class have been actively elisted for Foster
Gov DiN's decision will NIL them with salutary |
'e'~ternation. Ii l. for the advantage of this |
si'ss, and OF the criminal Law yers who thrive by
dc!vndlng them, that there should be a broad |
d' hatable region between the grades of homi-
oi'ie and the death penalty
We had supposed that the statement BY the |
'aPifai that the police had undertaken to sup /
ifess the sale OF its burlesque inaugural was pure
hadlnage, or bit of ingenious advertising
A'ee!' o1t As that paper seriously reiterates
the charge Wethink Major Richards owes IL to
himself and to his force TO investigate the mat
Ter lie Is an officer of too much Intelligence to
allow the belief that he would undertake this |
fecuiniy PARTISAN mode of regulating the
nf n