THE LABOURERS' REVOLT 



The farmers certainly were in hard case, and 

 all their previous upbringing militated against 

 their suddenly adapting themselves to altered 

 circumstances. On the very threshold, too, of 

 other misfortunes they had to meet what tried 

 their patience and their temper more than all, 

 viz., the revolt of their labourers. It was in 

 1872 that Joseph Arch carried his fiery cross 

 through the counties and started his Labourers' 

 Union. Although wages had from 1850 onwards 

 gradually advanced, it must be admitted they 

 had not kept pace with the rise in prices, and 

 herein was to be found some justification for 

 the effort made to redress the balance. But 

 there was less justification for the methods 

 employed to this end. No distinction was drawn 

 between the good and the bad master, and the 

 most virulent and incendiary language was used 

 of all alike. The farmers were attacked from 

 many platforms and not a few pulpits, and the 

 Press joined in the hue and cry. This led to my 

 taking a small hand in the game, for the farmers 

 asked me to champion their cause in the Press 

 and elsewhere, and to help them organize a re- 

 sistance, which resulted, at any rate, in the 

 public learning that there were two sides to this 

 as to many other questions. The labourers, 

 headed by self-constituted leaders, walked about 

 in procession through the country towns, wear- 

 ing the blue ribbon, which was the badge of the 

 Union, and was to the farmer as the red rag to 

 the bull, and singing about the land, honestly 

 believing that they were coming into possession 

 of it. 



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