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Show THE FATHER OF OUR NAVY. Among the names conspicuous for loyalty and brilliant achievement in the annals of the American revolution, none can overshadow in courage and devotion to the infant republic, and in bravery to the cause of liberty, the name of John Barry, the father of the American navy. It may have been a mere coincidence that John Barry landed in Philadelphia Phil-adelphia from a voyage to Bristol in the fall of 1775, on the very day the Continental Congress voted to build two warships, but that coincidence gave to America one of the brightest and most unselfish un-selfish men, one of the noblest characters which adorn the pages of our history one which will go down to posterity as long as the human race loves liberty and as long as the history of America lasts. John Barry was an Irishman, and his name not only brightens the pages of American history, but sheds a luster upon the sturdy sons of Erin who from revolutionary days to the present have been in the front ranks in fighting for their adopted country. He was born in 1745 in the town of Bal-lysampson Bal-lysampson and lived his boyhood days in Wexford county. In 1760, at the age of 15 years, he went to sea and in five years had become a master mariner ma-riner plving between the West Indies and Philadelphia. Philadel-phia. The virility of manhood thus early displayed brought him the respect of his employers, ana wnen he cast his lot with the American colonists he enjoyed en-joyed the confidence and esteem of the recognized leaders in the revolutionary movement. The unsettled un-settled period antedating the Declaration of Independence Inde-pendence found Barry engaged constantly in working work-ing out plans which greatly facilitated carrying on the war, then considered inevitable, which was precipitated pre-cipitated on that memorable Fourth of July, 1776. His active sea fighting embraced twenty engagements engage-ments with superior fleets in every one of which success was his portion. To him was intrusted the command of the Alliance when the ship carried the commission to France to assist Ambassador Benjamin Franklin in his efforts to secure money, ammunition, food and clothing for the ragged heroes he-roes who made up the rank and file of the Continental Conti-nental army. Upon the success of this mission rested much of the success of the rebellion to which he had pledged his life. Offers of high command in the' British navy and blandishments of money ? ' - ' ". -, m -K r r - " never tempted him to forsake the cause whose successful suc-cessful issue he deemed more important than his life. The confidence reposed in his honesty and loyalty was in no way misplaced. He was loyal more than loyal. He was God-given to the cause of liberty and freedom. It is pleasing to note the unveiling of a monument monu-ment in Independence park, Philadelphia, to this heroic seaman, which .took place the day before St. Patrick's day. The monument is the gift of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick to the city, and is not only a memorial of Commodore Barry, but is a patriotic pa-triotic offering by Irishmen to the nation which they love. Its position, almost in the shadow of the "cradle of liberty," and close to the statue of Washington, is appropriate. It is in the city which he made his home at the close of the war, and is on the very square where the Declaration of Independence Inde-pendence was read to the people of Philadelphia a few days after its signing a spot hallowed by memories of the great struggle for liberty. Many years have passed since Commodore Barry answered the last summons, and many generations of men have lived and died, but the memory of John Barry has been cherished in their hearts, and this monument monu-ment will teach its lesson of patriotism, loyalty and devotion to country to generations yet unborn. The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, which brought the statue into being, have won the applause and thanks not only of all Irishmen but of the whole nation for their good offices. In honoring and cherishing cher-ishing his memory it. is but justice clone, and is a tribute to a brilliant son of Ireland and a patriotic American. |