170 LAND REFORM 



labour for " intimidating" two labourers imported into 

 the neighbourhood to supply the places of men who 

 were on strike for an increase of wages. ^ 



The country was roused by these harsh proceed- 

 ings. Sympathy and financial help were given to the 

 men by many classes of the community, and a greater 

 impetus than ever was given to the progress of the 

 Union. At the next annual meeting, in May, 1873, 

 it was reported that there were about a thousand 

 branches formed, with over 70,000 members. 



Arch's influence over the men in those times was 

 unbounded, and they would have gone in any direc- 

 tion he wished them to go. But in spite of all pro- 

 vocation, he discouraged everything in the form of 

 retaliation. He and the Consultative Committee 

 were at one in the desire to conduct the movement in 

 the way of law and order. " I am not here," he 

 preached to the men, " to advocate rowdyism or any- 

 thing like that." The great work, he said, was to be 

 done, " not in an un-English or unlawful manner." 

 But in spite of his moderation and of the justice of 

 the claims he made, he was met by the territorial 

 party in the same spirit of hatred and implacable 

 opposition as that in which the peasant leaders of old 

 were met ; and had he lived in their times, doubtless 

 he would have shared their fate. 



The country clergy of the day, who knew so well 

 the starving condition of the labourers, unfortunately 

 missed a great opportunity of showing sympathy with 

 them in their legitimate efforts to help themselves. 

 The great majority of the clergy stood aloof from the 



^ The Press was unanimous in condemnation of the sentence. The 

 "Times" declared that the course taken was "extremely harsh and 

 singularly ill-advised. . . . Such a sentence staggered the poor women ; 

 and well it might, for it staggered the whole country." 



