The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-09-10
What Liberty ANA CiyE.issztiohi 29ave
Done for the Farmers.

The following curious facts compiled
by e. NJ. Chamberlain, Esq, OF Boston,
show from what depths OF oppression
and injustice the common people have
arisen; and they also intimate the
depths to which oppression and injus-
tice would again sink labor if they pos
sessed the power.
Speaking of the feudal system, Mr..
Chamberlain says:
This system is not so old as slavery,
but still is of very ancient date. 1t ex-
listed in Persia in the time of Aerxes,
and in Sparta. Japan is still divided
into feuds, as England used to be, and
for aught that is known to the contrary
it always was. Feudalism began to dis
place slavery in the early part of the
present era. It was in the greatest
vigor during the twelfth and thirteenth
centuries. In England, among the
Saxons in Alfred's time, thousand
years ago, not one man in twenty was
free. They were held for the most
part in feudal bondage, small proper
ton being actual slaves. The degraded
condition of the people was such that
they submitted to be yoked to teams
and branded and whipped like cattle.
Their value was appraised like so much
live stock. Under the feudal system
there were different classes Of laborers,
, as villeins, bordars, cottars and thralls.
The villeins were of the highest
grade. and at the close Of the Anglo
Saxon period, about the year one thou
sand, numbered, in thirtyfour coun-
ties, lO2,7O2; the bordars numbered
7I,823; the cottars numbered 5,941;
| the thralls, 26,552; while the citizens
and burgesses were only l7,l04. Vii
leins were of TIVE sorts, those who be-
longed to the soil, and those who be-
longed to tho person of their lord, and
were transferable from one person to
another. Thrall is the Saxon for slave,
and they were the lowest order. In
1902 it was declared unlawful to sell
slaves openly in the market. In the
reign of Edward l., 1910 villeins were
held to perform certain specified duties
and laburs for their lord, for the use OF
land, and at other times might work
for themselves.
Under the feudal system the labor
ers were harshly treated, could not
own property, and !. u.-aoht aftei hav-
ing run away. were frequently branded
with red -hot irons. To kill one was an
offence condoned by a fine, according
to the grade of the murdered man.
The theft of twelve pence was
among the Saxons capital crime, and
it took the oaths of several of the low
or grades Of iaborers to equal the oath
of one Of higher. Numbers fled to
the woods and formed bands of outlaws
like that Of Robin Hood, who frequent
ly plundered whole towns and villages
| While the barons in the country
were building their castles, which serv
ed at the same time as mansions, Ter
dresses and prisons, and their vassals
were huddled in huts around these
strongholds, the cities were becoming
by reason Of their commerce and man
tufactures, powerful rivals of the landed
mobility. In these cities free labor was
!Supplanting that of vassals, and we be-
gin to meet with the terms free men
journeymen. apprentices, and the like
The barons managed to force theil
dues flom the towns till these last hac
combined in sufficient strength to sue
cessfully resist their seigniors. Ths
corporation Of silk merchants wa
founded in ISL, that of the bakers IL
1855. The carpenters, masons, tailor:
and many other trades, had associa
tons also established at an early date
Masters and men, with the female
members Of their families belonged t.
these organizations. In l247 the feuda
system began to decline. Money wage
commenced to be paid, instead of priv
tileges in kind, the chief characteristic
of feudality. In 1857 servile tenant
if employed before midsummer, receiv
ed wages instead of privileges or per
quisites, and free laborers who bartere'
| their services for hire, began to appear
Wages were then penny day in har
vest time, and half-penny at othe
5 seasons. In 1850 the ''free laborers
t were first taken notice of by Englisl
| laws. II was VI that All OlSIl IL !
; where laborers had been sevcrally pal,
3. in wheat, they should receive wheat o
money at the rate of ten pence pc
bushel, at the option of their employ
| ers they were to be hired by the year
and other &C customed periods, and no
by the day. Weeders and haymaker
were to be paid at the rate of one penny
e mowers five pence per acre, or fiv
pence per day; reapers. during the frs
week in August, two pence per day, an
from that time till the end Of tn
month, three pence day, without die
or other perquisite.' The law enjoine
! .slaborers Of this description to carr
= their implements openly in their hand
;, = to market towns, and to apply for hil
:. in public quarter of the town."
!. This regulation of the laborers an
# the wages oflabor was repeatedly COZ
s firmed by succeeding parliaments.
t The law of 1858 regulates the di
l. and apparel of the laborers. That
IF 1888 prohibits servants from runnir
l. from one place to another. FINAL
r justices of the peace were directed
F. fix the prices to be paid for labor
rs various kinds, every Easter and Mic
- aelmas by proclamation. The statu