The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-11-22
lDUNRAVENS DEFENSE.
His Lordship Reiterates His Charge
Of Unfairness
IN THE AMERIoA's CUP CONTESTS.

YaciItsinan Gives tho Reasons for His Re.
cent Publication -wnI Como Here to Aid
4 in the Investigation.
iF CARDIFF, Wales, Nov. ga number
of promincnt residents of this city last
night publicly presented to Lord Dunrayen
a silver model OF Valkyrio III "for his gal.
liant efforts in. trying to- bring home thu
Americas cup" Lord Dunraven, reply
ing to the gentlomen who made the pre-
sentatlon, said that this occasion was one
OF the happiest moments OF his life, and
added:
II have passed through very trying ex-
perIence, and adopted a certain course
because 1t was my plain duty. l fully re-
alized that this course was likely to be
widely misunderstood and that 1t would
entail upon me much annoyance and
anxiety. anticipated that my words
would be twisted, my actions misundcr-
stood and all sorts of false motives attrl-
butcd to mo. My anticipations have been
amply fulfilled.
"fhe Americas cup has been erected as
. great international trophy, and the con-
tests for 1t have gradually acquired in
America the Dimensions Of n really I'M
portant national event. When great
masses Of people arc SO interested all the
responsibility should be assumed by those
in charge 1t is not fair to- the public or
any OF the parties concerned that there
should be any question as to honor or In
tegrity of one mans accuracy or keenness,
or Of another's moral perceptions. Such
contests ought to be conducted with the
closest official scrutiny.
t-l.N
bent upon trying TO deludc themselves
and others into the belief that in taking
the course it was necessary for me to take
Twas aotuated by some feeling OF animo5'
/. ity against the American people. Others
ACCUSE me of being the victim of pique,
splto or passion, and the strangest delu-
sion OF all Is the storm of Indignation pass.
lug over the United States at my alleged
tfeachery In formulating new charge
from the safe distance Of 5000 miles. That
astdunded me, and resent 1t, for 1t would
Z have been mean and contemplate. have
done nothing Of the kind.
4 f.T am unwilling to enter into discus
sion of these subjects, more especially as
everything say or do Is by some curious
misadventure misunderstood by the press
Of America. II out of the respect feel
for the American people, and my natural
repugnance TO saying anything which
might hurt the sensibilitics of personal
friends, / am reticent and guarded, my
words and actions are misunderstood, and
II I speak out / am accused OF the desire
TO insult great nation. To make speech
considered satisfactory by the Armenians,
Turks, English, Russian, Chinese and
French, by Exeter Hall and British jim
goes, Is an easy matter compared with sthe
task Of talking of the Americas cup.
i"It is, however, due to you who have
paid me the highest possible compliment
that should say few words on the sub
iect of the complaint made. l have moi
made an accusation against anybody.
mentioned a fact which 1 believe to bt
true, and which still believe to be true
namely, that Defender sailed the first race
more deeply immersed than when she was
measured the day previously, and gave
my reasons for SO thinking. Whether
am right or wrong is a matter Of opinion
and must, fear, always remain so, seeing
that the only possible opportunity of alb
solutely proving or disproving the justicI
of my complaint was not utilized.
alt Is absurd to pretend that l was nc
tuated by spite or pique because my vesse
Y was beaten, for made the complaint be
fore the first race was started, to Mr.
latham Fish, member of the committee
who was also Defenders representative OF
the Valkyrie ] gave him my reasons fol
my belief in words almost identical witt
those used in the pamphlet asked that
both vessels be measured Immediately
marked externally, and that the committe,
take charge OF them until they wero re
measured. The committee acceded to 1
portion of my request, though, most un
fortunately, not to all of it.
"Why those interested In Defender die
mot insist that immediate steps be thker
60 prove tho groundlessncss Of my com
plant, l do not know. Why the commit
see did not take the necessary steps, can
not tell could do nothing to Justify my
complaint. i could not prove my case. Il
could only be proved by the committee
and the committee hsying neglected tt
secure proof ono way or the other, ther'
was nothing left for me to do.
"It has been said that should have re
fused to start in the first race until tn,
vessels were remeasured, and have broker
off the contest altogether was not justi
fed, in my opinion, in taking so serious ,
step. The race was about to be started
some 60,000 people were out on some 20'
steamers, and should have been guilty o
deliberate rudcness towards q great mul
titude of people who had paid to see tht
race.
s saI greatly deprecate the introduction O
the personal element into tho inquiry.
am afraid that with the best of intentions
she New York Yacht club inquiry, afte
the lapse of two months, Fannot possibl,
arrive at satisfactory results. As 1 hav,
nlready offered, l will at any Inconvenience
20 myself do the best to assist the club
even if 1t involves visiting America. Th
club will do its utmost to slft the matter
thoroughly and impartially. That is quit,
certain.
sI am accused of desiring to insult tn
American nation. My ideas are not 81
large or ambitious. The contract is eve
no much too big for me. Is it not prepos
terously absurd that, after my long an,
close connections with America, and th
kindness and hospitality l have exper
icnced at their hands, could possibly de
sire to insult them? Or that, after i'm
mense trouble and expense Ishould with
draw from a contest unless felt abso
lntely compelled to do SOP r
~ would have admitted that my shil
was beaten had she been beaten on he
merits. But fair conditions and fair flel,
are necessary to determine that question
withdrew because 1 was certain it wa
my right as an individual and my duty q
q sailing representative.
''The redeeming feature, the bright lin
Ing to very dark cloud, Is the confidence
yeposed in me by those whose opinion
most value. ! can never sufficiently thanl
you for this beautiful work OF art. Yo,
can only realize what I wish had tn
power to express by putting yourselves il
my place." azs.
Superintendent 2. P. Stacey. of the D