The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-10
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1869
COMMODORE STEWART-THE AME.
RTCAN NAVY.

whose services are well nigh co-extensive with
the life of the Republic. During his first
cruise in the American navy, which dates
back to the last century, he acted as the ex-
ecutive officer of frigate commanded by
Commodore John Barry, who enjoyed the
proud distinction of taking the first vessel of
war ever captured in battle by an American
cruiser. This engagement occurred in April
1777, less than year after the declaration of
Independence, and it was one of a series of
brilliant successes achieved by the struggling
colonies during the Revolutionary War. Thus
although Commodore Stewart was born at too
late day to participate in the struggle which
resulted in the destruction of British dom-
Mon over our country, he was a pupil of its
naval hero, and he was the leading spirit of
the American navy during the long period
between the close of the last century and the
outbreak of the late Rebellion, participating
actively in all its important naval enterprises
except those embraced in the first and last
great wars waged by the American people,
During this eventful epoch he gained
great distinction during the war against
France, the war against Tripoli, and the war
of 1912 against Great Britain. In the latter
especially, his capture of the two British
ships-of-war, the Cyane and Levant, in one
engagement, won the enthusiastic applause of
his countrymen. An anecdote is told of this
affair, which happily illustrates the daring
and chiyalrous character of "Old Ironsides" ("
1t is said that on the morning subsequent to
the capture, the British officers, while break
fasting with Commodore Stewart in his cabin.
began an angry controversy in regard to the
cause of their discontinue, each alleging
that the other was in fault. Finally, they be-
came SO much excited that they appealed to
their captor for his opinion, when
he responded by saying -"Gentle-
men, this is too delicate a matter for me
to decide, but if you are unable to agree, and
are very anxious to fix responsibility in the
right quarter, I will place you back in your
vessels, fight the battle over again, and by the
time I recapture you, you can judge for your
selves who made the most gallant and skilful
defense" Many of the achievements of the
early ornaments of the navy seem more like
the deeds of the heroes of romance than the
conquests of ordinary raortals. There is little
doubt that they were inspired by an intense
desire to win distinction for themselves and
young republic, and that some of their feats
bordered on the marvellous. And yet, there
was a strong substratum of common sense,
practical knowledge, and Yankee shrewdness
under all their important movements. The
foundation of their most brilliant triumphs
was superior American skill in naval architec-
ture. This country not only produced the
swiftest vessels of the old style, but of six
frigates ordered to be built in 1894, three
were of a very heavy class, the Constitution
being one of this number, and these heavy
vessels were more than a match for any single
vessel in any other navy The daring
spirit of our officers improved these advantages
to the utmost, and it was this combination
which enabled the American navy to contest,
with such wonderful success, the English
supremacy on the ocean which had given rise
to the arrogant boast that Britannia ruled the
waves. At the commencement of the war of
1912 the leading national authorities at first
determined to conine all the vessels of our
navy in American ports to assist in home de-
fense, and this timid policy was only over
ruled by the earnest remonstrances of leading
naval officers, Commodore Stewart being
especially active and influential in securing
for himself and his gallant associates permis-
sion to antagonize the foe in his favorite ele-
ment The result showed that not
withstanding the vast disproportion
in the aggregate size of the two
navies, the Americans possessed swifter and
more powerful vessels and that they knew
more of the art of navigation and naval gun
nery than their British antagonists, and these
advantages united with the most undaunted
pluck, inflicted on John Bull the only naval
disasters he had suffered since the days when
the Dutch Admirals kept broomsticks flying
at their masthead as derisive sign of their
ability to sweep the English Channel IN
necessary as subsequent naval wars became,
after these demonstrations of valor and skill
for long period, the genius and courage dis
played during the late Rebellion show that
our countrymen are fully able, in times of
emergency. to maintain their old superiority
The haste with which powerful navy was i'm
proyised, and the ingenuity exhibited in the
improvements which have revolutionized the
naval architecture of every civilized nation,
fully Justify the belief that we can keep fully
abreast of these progressive times, and In
days of peril confound our enemies with new
Monitors and ne iron-clads, as well as sink
their Alabamas with new Kearsarge.
BEEOHER, THE PREA CHER.
SURELY if any man in the United States is
fitted IN faach the art of sarmOnizin0 that