Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-03-15
New York Forest and Stream

New York Forest and Stream
The muddle over the international
match, or at least that portion Of it re-
ferring to the Engl sh team, still contin-
ues. The question "tO be or not to be"
yet agitates the mind OF English rifle
men, and as far as the latest light has
been thrown on the matter by CORES
pondence and kilograms, it seems almost
certain that no Imperial British, or pure
ly English team would participate in the
greatest match Of the year. In fact, Sir
Henry Hslford's LAST letter was very
much to the point, and stated most pos
itively that should an Irish or Scotch
team be allowed to participate, his team,
or rather what might better be termed
the team Of the n. r. A. Of England,
would not. A letter was to have been
sent this week, however, from our side,
the purport of which Was to Offsr Sir
Henry match for his own team, indie
pendent of the other organizations. 1t
OOCuKp to Us, nov SvodI tltst tbs Officers
of the National rifle association OF Eng
land had no right to consider the circu-
lar which We sent to them, in common
with all other nations, in the light Of q
/ "challenge." 1t was simply g resolu-
ton, reading as follows:
" Resolved, That the president and
secretary of the National rife associa-
ton be authorized and requested to no.
tify, in the name of this association, ri
fiemen of England, Ireland, Scotland,
France, Germany, etc., and all other
countries having rifle associations or
clubs, Of the opportunity presented to
them to participate in the Competitions
instituted
And, besides, we hold the title of
champions, and challenges are generally
issued to, and do not emanate from
champions. Whatever invitation may
have been given to the English rifiemen
by Colonel Gildersleeve, when at VIM
bledon, could never have been consid-
cred as official or as excluding the rifle
men Of Scotland and Ireland from the
competition. The Irishmen, it seems,
are determined to send a team to try
their luck for the third time. The cable
tells US that, under date of March 4th,
the secretary Of the Irish riff association
has addressed letter to Sir Henry Hal
ford, in which ne says that "the original
rules of the National rifle association T by
which we presume be means the rules
| applying TO the selection of team to
visit this country caused the withdrawal
| of the Scottish club from the contest in
| America. Unless these rules are with
drawn, the Irish association viii algo be
| obliged to follow the example of the
Scottish rifiemen and enter an indepen-
dent team. The original were limited
and some of the most eminent Irish
shots were not invited. Unless the prin.
ciple Of local preliminary competitions
and an equal representation in the fins
competition is conceded, it is hopeless tt
expect that Ireland or Scotland will con.
sent to waive their right to enter indie
| pendent teams" The substance OF THU
communication we take TO be that the
Irish riflemen consider that the rules FOL
the selection Of the team, as promul
gated, would shut out some of their bes
shots, and that the clause requiring then
to go to England for the final competi
ton was too irksome. 1t appears probs
bic that we shall have an Irish and 8
Scotch team over, bat that the long-an'
ticipated pleasure OF greeting Englsnd'i
greatest rifle shot, in the person of Sil
Henry HaIford, will be denied US.