The New York herald., 1874-05-01

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the letter which We print this morning from
Newmarket England The cable despatch
which we printed yesterday, setting forth that
20 Mr. Wood was ready to carry laborers
to England from Ohio who would work for
from four to five dollars week wages on the
farms, came from Newmarket, and referred to
q condition of affairs which is narrated in full
by our correspondent this morning The SEN
timent is advanced that England is now
standing on the threshold Of Q greater politi-
cal change than any she has experienced since
the days Of Cromwell This is, perhaps, an
extravagant expression of opinion, especially
as it comes from what our correspondent calls
lone of the shrewdest and most far-seeing Of
the English working class leaders" Leaders
of workingmen" are not, as general thing,
very temperate in their expressions Of politi-
cal opinion. At the same time, when we como
to consider closely the situation, not only as
indicated in our narrative Of the agricultural
strike, but in many other signs we cannot
resist the belief that great political changes
are about to take place in England
And yet to the eye of the world nothing
could be more placid and tranquil than the
aspect of affairs in England A new Minister
has come into power. with more real power.
perhaps, than any Minister has held since the
time of Pitt Mr.. Disraei not only has the
House of Commons with him, but he has the
House of Lords The Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer has just submitted budget show
ing an overfowing treasury. The vanity and
martial spirit Of the people have been satisfied
by q triumphant war. Of course, it was only
against the wild Ashantee tribes of Africa, but
it was triumph, q cause for real fireworks
and rejoicing. Trade, commerce and business
prosperity were never so marked, and oil the
wealth of the world seems to food the money
markets of England. The French and German
war, while destroying the political rivalry OF
France, also destroyed its financial and
commercial rivalry 1t is really q problem
whether Germany or England was the winner
of the absolute fruits of that contest. Not
withstanding these material advantages, Eng
land has had the happy fortune to win the
good favor of France, and to feel that she is o
favored nation in French ports and markets.
all the colonies send their loyal wishes in
every breeze, and new colonies come from the
far Pacific seas and implore the Queen to cover
them with her sceptre. The famine which
threatened India seems to be under control,
and wherever the English flag waves it covers
United States, which threatened her maritime
supremacy, have been thrown back genera
ton in that race by the rebellion and foolish
legislation; and Russia, which menaced her
dominions in the East is held in check by
Bismarck and Austria.
Certainly there could not be SUMMER or
more peaceful scene, one more calculated to
inspire the English mind with gratitude.
Mr.. Disraei may thank the propitious stars
that seem to have followed him through his
romantic and extraordinary career that he is
permitted to rule q nation so supremely happy,
powerful and renowned Why, then, this fear
of ga greater political change than any that
has been experienced since the days Of Crom-
well ?" There may be the greenest of fields
and the sunniest Of skies, the eharvest-burdened
earth, the olive the vine and the billowy sea
of ripe, rustling grain, and under all the rum
bling of the earthquake or volcano. Is it so
in England? Our correspondent asks us to
accompany him to the agricultural section
from which he writes. We there see over four
thousand farm laborers ON strike. They ask
for higher weekly wages for better cottages,
for the opportunities of educating their chill
dren. These laborers have been receiving
thirteen shillings week Qess than four
dollars), and now ask for fourteen. It
seems that not long since they had
formed themselves into "an Agricultural
Union" The purpose of this union was self
protection and counsel. The farmers not only
refused to give them the additional shilling
week. but they informed them that if they did
not withdraw from the union they would be
'slocked out''-that is to say, given no work at
all The laborers replied that but for the
union they would now be working for ten
shillingsa week, and declined to withdraw. So
the four thousand farm laborers were '1ocked
out" The farmers supposed that the union
would not be able to support the four thou
sand laborers. The trades unions came
to the support of their agricultural brethren,
and now we have the singular fact that the
farm laborers are sustained in their contest
against the farmers by the hard earned money
OF mechanics and artisans in the large cities
and towns. In other words, labor recognizes
the brotherhood of labor, and together me-
chanic and farm-laborer will stand or fall
But surely these hot-headed, ill-advised
peasants are quarrelling with happy homes
with freedom. comfort and peace. Have we not
heard of the free, fair homes of fEngland, where
dwells honest industry, and under whose
roof tired labor finds comforting, sweet
repose2 All of this brightens our literature;
but what do we find in the narrative of our