New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-19
HoNoRS TO THE RIFLEMEN.
THE COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET.
SPEECHES BY MAYOR wICEHAM, MAJOR LEECH
cLA GU I'D An 1ArllEns

ention that had previously been shown them by giving
brilliant compliment Try banquet in honor OF those who
had taken part Ia the international rife contests at Del
monicos at FOurteenth-st and Ffthaye last evening"
The guests did assemble in the paTlors until some
time after the hour appointed, and It after o'clock
before they made their way into the large banquet hall
Mayor wickbam presided, with Col. Melon
aid Captain OF the Scotch Team, on his
right, and Major Leech, Captain OF the Irish Team,
his left. The tables tastefully adorned with
large bouquets and ornaments in sugar In front of the
presiding officer elaborate canopy, ncosing
Goddess Of Liberty extending the hand Of welcome,
while the word CroedmOOr" appeared in bold relief at
its top At either end OF the table figure of
the representative rleman. On the other tables
ornaments representing progressive industry including
the railroad train and steamboat. The visiting rinemen
distributed among the other guests, that they
might extend their circle of acquaintance. Formally
abandoned, and the enjoJ men of the evening
free and cordial.
Among those present were Col CroftOn United States
Army, commandment of Governors Island; Major
Wharton, aid to Gen. Hancock Gen. Joseph Il. Hawley,
President of the Centennial Commission; Gen. A. ].
McCOok, Gen. Alexander shaler Judge John r. Brady,
Plerpont Morgan, Gen II Klddoo, Gen. Lloyd Aslin-
WALL j. Nelson Tappen Gen. is. Dakin Judge Glider
sleeve Gen NJ. 7. LcAIahon, Gen Kllburn Knox Col G.
b. Mitchell. Major ID. ID. Wyle, ID. W. judd the Hon.
Augustus Morris Centennial Commissioner from Aus-
tralia, and many others
Hon. Hamilton Fish, and many others regrettng their
inability to be present
ADDRESS OF MAYOR wICEHAM.
1t was after IL O'Clock whenthe speaking began Mayor
Wickham making the first address. He said:
GENTLEMEN or TIE RIFLE TEAMS: am happy to avail
come. Your presence here has afforded great
pleasure, and shall cherish the recollection Of yon OF
personal acquaintance with You, OF your skin
and excellence IN the manly sport IN which
uun of IN 10
celebration OF the Centennial OF American ndcpend-
cnce. They who came among us hundred years ago
with rides in their hands, to shoot at u.s. and we
have every reason to congratulate Ourselves that none OF
OF with half the precision With which each You would
do il to-day Had ,hey then been able to reinforce their
armies with other OF the four rte teams we nave
here tonight, how different might have been enc
history OF the last hundred years That
your development III that direction was restrained
until we could he prepared 10 cope with
YOU Of those mercilu diPenSatonI which show
dress self you, you ms TO the British Empire
at large. sorry that among you Is not distinctive
TINS assemblage OF representatives OF Scotland leland
and the three great peoples which nave glOWA nom
public usefulness England herself has no distinct
magnanmy 10 rejoice in the triumph of either OF you
had you succeeded, yet cannot pretend to regret that
SHORES TCn do carry away, however admiring re-
gard for the pluck, skill and knighoy courtesy whiCh
YOU have all shown alnon u.s. aud gave YOU thls MINT
the assurance that the pphy, by good fortune hed
by tho prowess of the American Team, VIII always he
az your service back and VIII IL whenever you
can assuring you hitwh0ever represents us IN future
contests al ClsednlcOf or eiseN helt, Hdi me- Ro y, T
know you have found in the team ~ 1870, ana that
whenever yon beat them your triumph VIII be greeted
with grudges and their cheers VIII never Ne stined
The toast to "Our Gues!s responded 90 by Major
A. b. Leech of the Irish Team, Col j. Macdonald OF the
Scotch Team, Capt. Morris of the Australian Team,
Major J. O'Relley Of the Canadian Team, and MAJOR
Henry Fulton of the American Team. Gen. Hawley re-
piled to the toast in honor OF the Centennial Commission
ADDRESS OF MAJOR LEECH.
The remarks of Major Lecch were as follOws
GENTLEMEN: We an have from our different
homes to Wit the yctOrs OF the earth assenbltd
by their various representatives IN Philadelphia 70 re-
two years ago first visited your hospable shores bad
the honor Of meeting i've sSntIhem5sn VINO rave
Our conversation and Thoughts were principally
devoted TO the four countries irrespective OF other
Considerations and we endsayored find out new
means whereby mutual bs9ent might be derived from
nations allied in blood ana arcakirg language
and permit me to assure you tiat nope our lrsseII
meeting ON your soil OF tie centenary OF the establish
ment Of your independence az q nation may
be indication Of our feelings that mat event
has become of more benefit To me hnLh race ba cVa
ever have been contemplated b. he great IuunIeT OF s
republic confess 70 ierng o. PIGo ' J NV was ~
first suggested by Ireland and that u j. now ~ indeed
it ought to be- one OF tne es1o'SbSu re- Gmy
Of yOun country, supported !" W. nTms
ernment and encouraged by the public ILns
II il apparent that your Washington sim survives III the
minds your statesmen Who, Ike our own anu qune
irrespective Of politics which 40 mol DO" concern
and Industry Of the respective peoples. ! believe
that those distinguished gentlemen cOnid imltdle
whose totai abrcgation Of self 80 brilliant poI-
ton of the character u one OF the most transformations vi
men shall not dwell on scOrcs or Dust3ts, no. Even
tho uuriyard scores Of my friends Johnson ana SllurF
am well pleased with thc gallant struggle ne irlsimen
q 600 ponfs of whicE the Americans mace 3l26. aud
the lisn 3,lo4 the former winning D% - boh s St
counts two IL is evident that INC match Was Won a' ,S
latest moment. Your team have won, won wen ana
,fafp1s and al
under that magnificent bridge tbGt Is ~ cOrsh OF con
suuction between Ne"-lolh anu p iS y, my me n
wac THIS: that these International contests "enG
like the wires saw srsI" tr one e /" tie other
the bonds VI union become Strength Ghtl even
tuay these great ctS S H HlaIM So let ms Ion
hand in band-Irishmen. Scoiehntn Anstiailans,
old Nc are human beings, and anything that tends to
their advancement il Is Cu duly 10 b. cQnccihGg about
sec Fngand Was ycd to take part the fest
ties, bat owing to some acciueht" miseoHooPloh '
English Iihemcn are not mere
ADDRESS or GEN. sHALER
Cen shaer IN answer the toast in honor OF the Ma
tional Rife ASSOCIATION, spoke rs follows:
HR. PRESIDENT: The association which | have th me
honor TO represent this evening" during The three or i9n
dining the week Just past, spoken so eGqnehty if IeeIi
that shall re!raE from doing Dut mug more ' ~
0iug file pcuT paid 10 by the toast ana eN
mess the pleasure cricHcSd by It's members IN HAVING
been instrumental ~ securing me ltesGnGo @ bn I
Never in The history Of rifle shooting Ea 50 i1eh IN
terest cen cred la a contest the one just clOscdccr
family no IN AmeTica-and we rejoice, as Americans,
that ii has been privilege IN ts CeJteDla wear o.
American peuience % iEauSatc an1 10 con 70
ccessfnl termination the first great nerhatiOha rue
contest IN which the Thenen OF more thaL TWO COun
erica have taken part say OF more than Two cohires
because 10 Ireland belongs the homer and credit OF na
guratng international rifle contests by ne chniieige
Sent to America IN 1874 by worthy ana distinguishes
representative Irish Tcan ana our tihed iIonu,
winners of Tie ElcGO Shield IN 1873 II seemed to rs
fitting and proper closing century 1t ndtlOhh cA'St
ance neriud marked Dy most wonderful discoveries
] - L.. IN. 49, nj LlLI