Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-08-04
companies marched to Market hall and dis
AT THE PARK.

the Union took the train for the st. Pau
Rifle park grounds, which had been prepare,
for the grand tournament. These ground
have been described SO recently in the col
/ umns of the GLOBE, that all mention of then
is omitted at present.
1t was expected the electric batteries To-
managing the targets would be in use during
the festival They were tested on Sunda.
and found to be in perfect working order
but yesterday they refused to operate, an(
their use had to be abandoned and the regular
wires substituted. This occasiOned some DE
lay, and the shooting did not commence unit
about 3 p. m.
| OPENING THE FEST.
Shortly after D. m. the members assembled
in the dining hall and, after being called to
order, Mr.. Albert Scheffer, president of the
fest, addressed the assemblage in German, bid
ding them cordial welcome to st. Paul. and
expressed the hope that they would one and
all enjoy themselves during their stay, and
carrv away with them pleasant recOllectiOns
of their visit Mr.. Scheffer spoke entirely ex-
temporaneously, but he made one of his hap
piest efforts, and no man in st. Paul is his
equal in those off-hand speeches. He warned
the visiting brethren that while st. Paul would
omit no effort for their comfort and hosplta-
BILE entertainment, when the contest came
in front of the targets friendship would cease.
| The St. Paul club did not wish to carry of
all the prizes, but they would omit nothing to
win them all if they could.
| ADDRESS OF JOHN W. WILKES.
| Mr.. Scheffer's remarks were frequently in
| terIupted with uproarious laughter and loud
| applause, and IN conclusion introduced John
w. Wilkes, Esq, the orator of the occasion,
| who spoke as follows:
| Mr. President and Gentlemen of the North
western Rifle Club Association:
| Your assemblage in this city for the purpose
| of friendly contest in craftsmanship has at.
| tracted universal interest and attention.
| Thousands of people in every section OF the
| Union will, during the continuance of your
| tournament, regard with admiration the
worthy exploits of those whom st. Paul
greets to-day, with the smiles and embraces OF
| a hearty welcome. The exercise in arms which
has summoned you hither at this time must
be viewed with approval by every thoughtful
citizen. 1t suggests not only skill in the pur-
suit and capture of game, watch in itself min
listers largely to the convenience Of society,
but also an eminent qualification for that most
transcendent of duties-the national defense
History abundantly yerifies the idea which
occurs to me that the rifle has been potent
factor in the conflicts which have resulted in
the establishment of civilization, religion and
good government in America. superior
ability in the use of fire arms has driven the
barbarian hosts from every portion of the
continent now possessed and occupied by CIV
ilized man. The battles of the revolution
were largely won by soldiers whose skill in
the use of the antique long -barrelled rifle sur
passed the clumsy craftsmanship of the Brit
ish troops. In the other foreign wars which
the Gnited States have waged, the volunteer
rifeman, trained to the use ofire arms in pri-
vate life, has acted most important and mer-
itOriOus part.
These historical facts warrant me in saying,
with the utmost confidence, gentlemen, that
if war should again afflct our beloved coun-
try, your practical skill lin the use of arms,
would be worth far more to the national
forces than the random firing of an ordinary
brigade. Not only IN modern times has the
marks mans art proved its utility, and excited
admiration. In history, both sacred and pro-
fame, Us well as poetry add romance, from the
time of Nmrod TO the latter days of Robin
Hood and the modern legends of our forest
and prairie frontier, unite in commendatory
Illustrations of the nobility and value of that
art which you have here met to practice.
No audience would require demonstration
of the evident benefit which necessarily result
to the individual from exercise in rifle shoot
ing. he steady nerve, the GOODNESS and good
Judgment naturally acquired by the practical
marksman, are valuable qualities in all rela-
GlODS Ol lie. Ill blulcS vi WdI
rifeman makes the best soldier, because he
has in times of peace given heed to the max
i'm of Schiller:
"Wer durch leben, sich irish will schlagen,
Muss Nv schultz und trutz gerustet sein."
am Informed that shooting societies like
your own are much more numerous and pop
ular in the German fatherland than in Amer
lea. | hope that this statement will
uot long hold true, but that the rifle and
target will soon hold a high place among the
insignia of our national sports. AS Amer
leans are accustomed to excel the world in all
| contests, both friendly and hostile, we should
| make every effort to augment our achieve
| ments by winning the laurel Of championship
as marksmen.
Upon the highest political considerati ons
| the general possession and use of arms by the
people should be sttdously encouraged. Un-
| der form of government like our own,
| founded, maintained and managed as it is by
| the people, the general armament Of the cit
| izens cannot be dangerous to the State, but,
| on the contrary, highly advantageous, since it
| furnishes a force which can be promptly
called into action either to repel Invasion or to
| quell the tumult of domestic strife Popular
| armament in Germany, England and America
| is a natural result of the sense of personal
| dignity, the lofty courage and spirit of indie
| pendence which is characteristic of the T,u-
| tonic race. In country where despotism
| wieldS the sceptre over slaves 1t may be the
| true policy to lodge all armed forces IN the
hands of the government, and to render the
| individual powerless. Such is not the Ameri-
can doctrine Guided by the lessons of expe-
| rience and actuated by complete confidence in
| the people who are the rghtful source of all
| political power, our fathers in
| corporated into the constition of
| the United States provision which declares
that ''the right of the people to keep and to
bear arms shall never be infringed." The
| theme upon which have ventured to address
you is so fertile and suggestive, gentlemen,
| that would fam dwell upon it with more ex
tended elaboration, but l forbear. l greatly
| fear that the desultory remarks which have
made have scarcely been SO well aimed and SO
forcibly discharged as to hit the target
of your approval, l can, perhaps,
excuse myself by the plea that 1
never visited the region of shooting stars be-
fore, and having scared above my ele-
ment, and become lost in the contemplation
of this brilliant galaxy, | have naturally
eviDced some confusion of ideas. In conclu-
sion, gentlemen, present to you renewal of
the assurances which have been expressed by
Mayor Rice, and by my eloquent friend Mr..
Scheffer, of your hearty welcome to the capital
city of Minnesota, l assure you, also, of the
high estimation in which your exercises are
held by our people, and the universal desire
that the present contest may be eminently sue
cessful as well as enjoyable, and that it may
prove memorable triumph for American
| mark kmanshiD