Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-09-11
a PRIZE JUBILEE.

Last evening. At National Guard Hall.
Virginia City. tho distribution Of the
prizes won At their recent annual target
shooting excursion by the National
Guard took place in accordance with
previous announcement. and was N oc-
casion Of much more than usual interest.
The Pacific Coast Pioneers, having an
interest in the matter. were present by
special invitation. AZ also was the WASH
ington Guard. The Pioneers. to the
numbsr Of about $50. marched down
from their hall on b street, with the
prettily -costumed zouavs drum corps OF
the National Guard at thsir head, and
were received in good style BY the Ma
t~ionals, and assigned seats at the north
side OF the great hall. Soon the WASH
ington Guard. in their handsome uni
form, and headed by their most excellent
brass band, came marching in, and took
seats on the south side OF the hall with
the Nationals, while their band occupied
the orchestra seats in the gallery.
An Inspiri.g Seem.
Looking down from the gallery, . de-
cidsdly inspiring and peculiarly inter-
esting scene presented itself. The gay
uniforms Of the sOldisry occupying
side Of the hall. contrasted pleasingly
with the more ssdsts looking yet happy
Odd Boys seated at the other. each wsa-
ring his badge. The entrance end OF the
hall IS well as the gallery. was crowded.
with invited guests and spectators, all OF
whom manifested . lively interest. A
long table, most literally loaded with
choice eatablss and drinkablss, wa
ranged down the middle Of the hall, and
at the east end was q raised platform, at
the rear Of which. resting against the
wall, was the company flag OF the
| Nationals, beside the costly and splen-
did flag recently presented by them to
tn. Pionssrs. Near these stood two
we'll psppersd targets. In front OF the
platform Was q table loaded with the
magnificent presents to be awarded to
the best shooters at the recent target
excursion. These presents were Of va
rious descriptions and values, from =
| solid silver tea set, watches, and other
articles in silver and gold, down to ar.
ticles Of clothing. 10 say netting oil
rings, sleeve buttons, cigar holders, and
similar desirablss; the inevitable leather
medal present from the renowned
Tom Collins-for the worst shot, con-
! Guiding the list. Near the platform and
table were seated the officers and those
who we're to take . prominent part in
the exercises OF the evening. After
music BY the band, the meeting was
called to order by General G. G. Bat
ternan, who made the following
opening Addresst
To the many friends OF the National
Guard, to whom they are indebted for
these valuable presents, / give their
thanks. To the Pioneers and friends
present tonight. in behalf Of the Nation
al Guard, l bid welcome. II has been,
and still 10, in some localities and with
some men the fashion TO jeer and rdi-
cule the militia Of our country. i will
admit that In years long gone by there
was much deserving OF ridicule. But in
the militia OF to-day and that Of twenty
years ago there is a vast difference. Many
heroes, now sleeping in their graves,
whose memories will ever DO tendsrly
cherished in the hearts Of their country
men. and many. whose nainss illumin-
ate the pages Of our country's history,
and without whose knowledge and efforts
our nationality would now be q thing OF
the past, were graduates Of ths militia
drill room. The day when swords shall
DO converted into pruning hooks, and
bayonets beaten into plowsharss, 10 yet
many generations distant.
As long a. governments exist military
organizations will be = necessity. Large
standing armies are repugnant to Tree
institutions. and any standing army can
b. tolerated only by the police necessity
of the Government. The people OF a
free country must necessarily have thai
kind Of education which will enable
them 10 protect their homes and institn-
tons. This knowledge and discipline
can only be acquired by u children IN
the school room and by our young and
middle aged men in the drill room. The
volunteer militia system should be los
tered and encouraged by wise and no
srL legislation, and not made the oui-
fst Of Vould-bs legislative wits. whose
mental vision cannot penetrate beyond q
brass button. To those present who
feel an interest in military matters, III
may not be improper tonight to call
your attention TO other things than
marksmanship. That TO be . good shot
is an essential qualification VI a good
soldier, cannot bs disputed; but to
make this available in time OF need, you
must possess that other and greater
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. The power to
act quickly and effectively depends up
on your ability TO comprehend the COM
mands and execute smoothly and with
out blunder the movements which make
your act as a unit, bringing to bear all
You force on any given point. The
ability 10 do this Is what distinguishes
the we'll organized military from amob.
This ability il acquired by the volun-
tear militia through sslf-imposed disci.
pline; q surrender for the time bsing Of
our ~prejudiees, opinions and will, to the
discretion OF those in command
or authority-a subsection to hIsd laws.
In this, then, there 10 NO degradation
or acknowledgement Of infsriorisy-the
restraints in our case are self.assunsd-
and the private OF to-day may become
the General OF tomorrow. i wish to
call your attention 10 the discussion now
going on amcng military men As to what
shall constitute the unit OF an army.
In England. Germany, France and the
United States ii has been the battalion
or regiment. In Germany . II is the
company, which has been increased to
go men, which is the unit upon which
all tactical movements are based. Eng
land is assimilating itself to the same
army system. France has made the at
tempt and failed. Why For want OF
sufficient officers qualified in thar pro-
fession 10 command $50 men, and the
change has been postponed until sum
Gent officers can be educated to assume
l - AZ. eo-mnaniaa In our