New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-09
Mr.. Arch at Home.

Dailv. NeUS reports thaJ on Decemoon
Standardization in honor OF the return from
Canada of Mr.. Arch, president tot, OF inc ma
fional. Agricultural Laborers' Union, TOOK
Dlace In his native Warwickshire village.
large concourse of persons assembled on
the village green to hear the narrative OF
His Canadian tour from the travellers own
Inns. and an enthusiastic reception was
given to him. Several speakers, in terse
though hOmely terms, expressed their al
miration of his character and work, and eu-
jopizpd Mr., Arch "a one of the first reform
qrs of the day. When Mr.. Arch rose 10
sneak he was received with renewed cheer
ing. Replying to those who accused him OF
interested motives, he stated that his con-
nection with the union had not resulted IN
the addition of a single shilling to his in
come more than he would have earned If
he had continued at his manual labors.
His simple object had been, not his own
personal advancement, but the ameliora-
ton of the condition of agricultural labor
prs- and. although calumny and abuse had
been heaped upon him, he now, in the
midst of his fellow villagers, challenged
them, or any man in England, to say any
thing which could injure his character. lie
had lately travelled 10000 miles, and was
not shilling the richer. The farm labor
ers of England now enjoyed an opportu.
nifty for resisting reduction OF wages and
securing improvements in their social and
political status, which, if allowed to slip,
might never occur again. The union num-
bered thousands on thousands OF members,
and it's funds amounted to thousands OF
nounds. If farmers threw down the gaunt-
let. the union meant fighting, and was pre-
nared to take every farm laborer IN Eng
land from his employer, unless he was
properly treated
II the landlords of England would not
listen to their just demands, he would
make the House Of Commons listen to their
grievances; and, if necessary, he would
enter Parliament to press their claims. The
union was backed by 74O, 600 artisans. who
were determined to support it until the
laborers gained their rights. He now knew
more than the farmers, whom he could set
at defiance. He had it from the best au-
thOrities that the extension of the franchise
in the counties was high up on the forth
coming programme. The question would
be brought before the House OF Commons
early in The ensuing session; and its oppo-
neuts must be careful or they would md
Joseph Arch, at the head of 100000 farm
laborers, marching into Palace yard and
LAYING hold OF the doors of st. Stephens.
"A few hundreds belonging to the Union
might be well spent in carrying thousands
of the tillers OF the soil to the seat OF the
legislature to claim the political freedom
which they were determined to possess.
In regard to emigration he observed That
land had not fed SO well as they did their
dogs, nor housed 80 we'll as they housed
their cattle, were now in especial demand
in every market of the world. Australia
and New Zealand made them most tempting
offers: while Canada had conceded his
every demand, in order that he might send
50, 900 men to the Dominion next spring.
While agreeing with the press that England
could not afford to lose her good men, and
regre ting the loss to the mother country of
her bone and sinew, he felt that the exodus
must go on, unless the laborers were treated
differently in the future to what they had
been in the past. The problem could be
solved by the landed proprietOrs, but they
must begin at once, or they would be day
too late. If the laborer had proper cottage
accommodation and four or five acres OF
land, on the terms on which it was let to
farmers. the laborers would not leave their
native shores. and the result would be the
proper cultivation of the land, while under
the present system one half Of its capabili-
ties were not developed.
The day was not far distant when land
owners would have to cOncede to the labor
ssrs portion of the soil. A country was
going to ruin, when the land was not pro-
ducing half the quantity 1t should produce.
In view OF the present bad cultivation OF
the soil, and the consequent loss to the
nation. he was determined to procure an
act of Parliament making its proper cultiva-
ton obligatory on the owners Of the land,
SO that the soil might not be held SO much
for private gain rs for the general good
alluding to the insinuatlon
that he was "confscator and Communist,
and young Republican hero he diseialmed
any such prOclivities, and urged that he ap-
proved of no cOntiscation but such AS was
sanctioned by Parliament AS persons
were REQUIRED to give up their land when it
was required by railway company tor
other purposes sanctioned by act of Parlia-
ment, so they ought to surrender their land
when they were proved to be unable or I'M
willing to develop its resources, in order
that it might be properly titled, and the
people fed. ~
lie intended, in his interview with Mr..
Gladstone on the following day, to impress
anon him the necessity of the interference
~ the government in order to secure the
,roper cultivation of the soil. Advertlng
"a f,cal taxation he urged that 1t would
,ever he euualized until workingmen were
,atnrned 10 Parliament. While the farmers
yere gruntiug under their burdens, and had
,inetS-six representatives IN the House OF
,ommons. not one of Nem ventured TO
econd the tenant right bill. Farmers wouid
never get proper representation untll the
ahnrer had the franchise; because they had
lot the pluck to avail themselves Of the
,silotI The country was now losing its
trepgth and Fastening to destruction, be-
anss the labor problem was not solved.
Vhsre We're tbs recruits for the army to |
oma fyom! Not from 1.-THE country lads,
az Se would send them to cline where
ortune rewarded honest labor, and every
nan enjoyed perfect freedom. ....
He went on 70 rebuff the statement .nas
lis mission va q failure. and that he 1onnd
,anada worse even than England, and he