i68 LAND REFORM 



the farmers are resolutely opposed to the Union, which 

 they regard as a most dangerous confederation. Some 

 have already discharged all their labourers who have 

 joined the Union, and other unionists are under notice 

 to leave. "^ 



But in spite of this opposition the movement spread 

 through the counties with great rapidity. An im- 

 mense number of meetings was held throughout the 



o o 



country. The present writer attended a great many 

 of them, and can vouch for the moderation, common 

 sense, good feeling, and simple speech of the poor 

 half-starved labourers. Their speeches were always 

 pithy, simple, and to the point. " They wanted only 

 to state their case fairly to the country and let the 

 country judge." The remembrance of these gather- 

 ings adds poignancy to the regret that these fine, 

 tough, stalwart men, homely healthy women, and 

 their numerous families — the real human "pedigree 

 stock " of the nation — should have disappeared, and 

 left our country-sides almost a desert. 



An account of one or two of these gatherings will 

 show the character of them all. 



At a meeting held at Lyneham Green, near Yeovil, 

 in the midst of heavy rain, there were 600 labourers 

 and women present. Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice, a 

 w^arm sympathizer with the men, was in the chair. 

 Among the speakers was a labourer, Absolom Black- 

 man, who said that he had a wife and five children, 

 and his wages were los. a week. He had to pay 50s. 

 a year for his cottage, 4d. a week to a benefit society, 

 and 5^d. to a clothing club. Out of what was left there 

 were seven persons to keep. " He should be glad to 

 know," he said, "how 'twas done, for he didn't. He 



» "Times," 25 March, 1872. 



