The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-09-27

abominable doctrines of Messrs. Typdall anl
Huxley.
Mr. John Mitchell is in Dublin. He arrived
last evening from Newry in company with Mis-,
Mitchell, Mr.. John Martin, M p, and Mrs
haftn-Mr. MitchePs sister. The party are
staying together, and believe they will re-
main together for some time to come Mr.
naitchel, you may be sure, has had many visits
since he came, but regrot to saw that not
outstanding the rest and enjoyment of the
last few weeks, he looks Int the shadow of his
former self. His mind, however, is as vigorous
as ever and his principles unchanged.
l cannot close this letter without briefly
allnding to the departure on Saturday last by
the steamer Scotia, from Queenstown for New
York, OF the Lord Mayor of Dublin Mr. Brooks,
M P,) the Lady Mayoress Miss Brooks the
Lord Mayors daughter) of Lord and Lady
Niassereene, of one or two Aldermen of Dublin
and OF Major Leech and eight other gentlemen,
who have challenged the most eminent cham
pions of the United States in the matter of
rihe-shooting, aud are, accordingly, to take
part in great International Match on the
goth of this month at Creedmoor. great
huliabaloo has been made about this affair in
this country. and the Erecman's Journal has
sent out a Especial" to chronicle the deeds of
Leeoh and his eight. Very probably an
equally great hulIabaloo will have been
created in the States anent the same affair
before this reaches you. Leech and his Team
have been holding themselves out these ever
so many years in England and elsewhere as
national band-as representatives of the Irish
nation; and they are constantly talked of as
" the Irish National Team" By some chance
they won the year before last in the Wimble-
don contest, taking with them to Dublin the
Elcho shield from the English and Scotch and
forthwith the victory was claimed as having |
been won by ireland" And have no doubt
that if they are defeated by the Americaus-as
there is every reason to expect they will be
Jbe defeat will be set down as having been
suffered by " Ireland" Yet this would be by
10 means a right way of stating the matter
This " Irish National Team is not national in
my respect, and / doubt if it is even Irish.
dajor Leech and his eight men are simply
line members of a small private Amateur
Society established here in
dublin, composed of few Dnblin Castle
fhclals and others who eau get "A magistrates
cense for keeping gun, and animated solely
y mere love of personal splay, by little
elfsh vanity, and by passion for rifle shoot
lg; just as other men have a passion for
eeping dogs, or horses or game-cocks. No
ody would say anything in disparagement of
lem if they went out in their true character
ut when they go out as the best shots" in
'eland, while at the same time the rest of the
eople of Ireland are absolutely disarmed, and I
leusands of better shots " in Dublin aud in J
le provinces outside their little society l.
1t would he imprisoned if they were found
r one second in possession of anything like
earn, or even n sword-cane, it is difficult to q
frain from denounciDg Major Leech and his
sam as set of mpostors. They are regarded "
re- except by the small government coterie, :,
it'll contempt and indifference they are re-
diated as representatives of the nation; their :.
feats and their victories are regarded as -
ncerning their own characters alone and it i"
hoped that this will be the case in the u
lited States also. J.J.C.