The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-11-06
MASSACHUSETTS,.
The Labor Question.
Speech of Joseph Arch-Gen. Butler as a
Horny Handed LnbOrer and HnhatiOnist.
Reception Of Joseph Arch.

Boston, Nov. 5.-Joseph Arch the represen-
tative of the interests of English farm labor
erS, ON visit of inspection to this continent,
was received in Faneuil Hall by an immense
gathering this evening, under the auspices OF
a committee of the several organizations pro-
motive of labor reform.
Various notices, expressive of progress made
and work yet to be uone, were ranged around
the gallery fronts, together with the British
and American colors in graceful union. Music
was also provided and the numerous throng re-
manned remarkably quiet during half hours
delay caused by the late appearance of those
who were to conduct the meeting. Wendall
Phillips presided and Gen. Butler, Hon. A. p
Collins and others of less prominence were IN
the party on the platform.
Mr.. Arch and Mr. Clayton, his companion,
were warmly greeted as they took their seats
on the rostrum.
MIR. Phillips spoke at some length on the
movement in which the guest of the evening
was engaged, and recalled the events that had
led to the settlement of America, including
the many expressions to which the laboriDg
classes were compelled to submit across the
ocean, Mr.. Arch's mission was in continuance
of the relief hitherto successfully sought by
European laDorers on American soil.
E. NJ. Chamberlain made the formal speech
of welcome, taking occasion to state some of
the results of the union which Mr.. Arch rep
resented, the chief of which was the raising of
the la5orers hire from 80 to 80 per cent. Mr.
Arch, upon being introduced by the President,
was cordially received" His appearance was
modest in the extreme, and his response was
conched in plain and pointed terms.
He had learned, he said, to value the dignity
of labor and had come to know that the man
who worked for his country's prosperity was
worthy of place equal to the miionares, and
to that end all laborers should combine in one
common brotherhood In one of these move
ments for the betterment of the workmen's
C ndition, he was once reminded of the surplus
of laborers. His answer was the simple in
CURRY. Where is our Surplus of arstoracy?"
Yet the workers had some friends among the
aristocrats, few of whom he mentioned as
giving him pecuniary aid to advance the COM
mon object. that of enabling laborers to secure
land to cultivate from the thousands of acres
that lay idle for the pleasures or the few He
had told the authorities of England that before
he would look tamey upon the present condi
ton of the English laborers he would scour
America through and through, till he had
faand land for the last laborer that toiled to
little purpose on English soil. lie would stop
longer on this trip to the United States, but for
the impossIbility of making an intelligent in
spection of the broad States in the short month
allotted to him.
He hoped to obtain permission from his
committee to revisit America in the spring for
an examination of four months at least A
combination of farmers and landlords last
spring discharged 1000 men from employment
| $4,000 was at once raised by the Union and for
| tunately none suffered to the successful end of
| lection of honest toll in England were effected
| by Union of all branches of labor for mutual
support in adversely The authorities did not
object SO long as the laborers were not taught
politics. Mr. Gladstone (hssesj had already
| begun to consider the condition of the working
| classes, and Mr. Bright had taken up his
(Arch's) programme that the laborer should no
| longer be kept from sharing the fruits of Eng
IL h soil, which he had labored SO hard to pro-
| duce for the market, and now he (Arch) was
/ fl,n,, LOFT 70 ont I,a
| scheme of emigration till the surplus of land
| should have no men to cultivate it He be-
| lleved in going to the root of the tree when
he proposed to cut it down. The Importance of
education to these was duly appreciated and
little paper with a circulation of 100000 and
with 100000 readers, devoted exclusively to the
interests of those readers, had been for some
time published to take the place of the regular
press that had supported labor to the ditch and
then dropped il. Farmers had sent So mem
bers to the House of Commons, yet project
for their betterment could not find a secon der
in that body owing to the hold that the land
lords had on those members.
But times were rapidly changing. and the
trades unions were now consulted on important
measures of reform. The Interests of one was
fast becoming appreciated as the interest of ALL
| and combinations always in favor with the
| thoughtful Englishman, were becoming more
general than ever.
Mr.. Arch closed with an urgent appeal to the
| their Grams Atlantic brethren in upholding the
| cause of the people against the over-bearing
dominance of the few, for if they would not
protect themselves none would be found to take
| up their side of the question honestly.
A letter was read from Gen. Banks indorsing
Mr.. Arch's mission. Charles Sumner also
wrote an expression of interest, advising Mr..
| Arch to continue his exploration of the para
| disc of wording men,"
| Gen. Butler, who was loudly called for. was
| introduced as working man who now and
| then addressed his fellow citizeus He well
| coined the representative of the English labor
| to America and emphatcally informed him for
the benefit of those to whom he was to report
| that the laborer in America was the sovereign
of the soil, which in its turn was as free as the
| air to those who desired to utilize. The coun-
| try was governed by the producers, and the
reason why there had been no combinations
| among them was because they had not yet
been distressed. When the monopoly of trans
portation began to pinch them, however, they
| combined and to some purpose which would
| soon become apparent in fair division of the
| benefits of labor and capital.
People were deceived by the cry of descent to
| specie payment. We never had specie payment
banks; were never required to keep on hand
| more than $25 to redeem 800 of their paper
| circulation. Specie payment would bring down
| values and to that he was opposed. There was
| a specie basis in Great Britain and the conse-
qnence was propOrtOnate low cost of clothing
| and consumption, but the English laborer ate
meat only once week while the American
thus INDUCED twice a day, and he wanted no
| specie basis if that was one of its effects.
| Gen. Butler was in merry mood and made
much fun for his hearers, who We're profuse
with their Interruptions; which evidently suit
| ed the sneaker Other speakers were intro
| beds to further listening, and the later rem arks
were heard by only few.