The Irish standard., 1902-09-27

gress, he fought the last battle of the
Revolutionary war. Peace had been
declared on land some time before, but
an engagement occurred between the
Alliance and the Sybil, in which the
latter was wCrsted. 1t was on this &C.
casion that Barry gave his famous an
swer when hailed With "Who arc
youT' His reply was, ".Tha United
States ship Alliance-saucy Jack Ba.-
~, half Irishman and half Yankee
WHO are you?'
After the war Barry resumed his
employment of merchantmen com
mander. The navy was dismantled.
The country struggled along for some
years, every m NTH discovering the Ar
ticles of Confederation, which had
served we'll enough in time of war,
when all were united against a COM
mon foe, were not suita BILE for govern
ment in times of peace. At length, i'll
1881, a convention was called fer the
purpose of changing the form of GOV
eminent OF devising Il new method of
government. Most of the states were
represented. The result Of this was
the adoption by the convention of the
present constitution of the United
States.
When Pennsylvania delegates to thu
Constitutional Convention reported to
the Pennsylvania Assembly and Sell
ate some of these opposed to change
attempted to defer action by the lcgis-
llt,lra. Nineteen members attempted
to prevent business by absentng them
selves and preventing the presence of
Il quorum. Public sentiment was
strongly against these members, and
their attempt was cut short by the DE-
tcrnlined action of john Barry, now Il
citizen
With few friends Barry sciz ii
fCrcibly two members Of the Assembly
and Brought them to the SESSION III TN"
legislature, where, unwilling audit rs.
they made :, quorum, which immcdl-
ately voted to fix IL time for action
upon the prop sod constitution Of the
United States. Thus John Barry by
determined action forced Pennsylvania
into line and helped to the ad ption
by his state of The present c3nStitu-
ton. One of these members, james
McCalmont, attempted to have Barry
prosecuted, and Oh his evidence, II t
denied by Barry, the state went
through the form Of beginning action
against the latter. But, lik" many
other actions strictly legal but opposed
to common veal, it died natural
death.
During the latter part of Washing
tons administration Congress author
lied the building of three frigAtcs and
three smaller vessels Of war. Thls WAS
done in March, 1874, and in june sin
captains were appointed. The first APP
pointed, outranking I'LL others, WAS
John Barry, who, by this act, became
the scniol officer of the infant navy.
Washington issued tile first commits
sion, creating the first officer in the
navy of the United States OF America,
to- John Barry on Feb. -, 1901 THUS.
| in Il double sense. is John Barry this
Father of the American Navy. AS
first commander of thc FIRST ship flying
tile first Continental llaG upon the seas
and bearing the first commission is
sued in the name of the Continental
Congress. he was the first officer Of the
Revolution III on the sea. And now,
as the first captain and ranking officer
commanding the first vessels owned
by the United States of America. he
becomes the naval progcnitrl' of tn
long line Of distinguished naval heroes,
Barry died Sept Is, 1903. and WAS
buried in the churchyard of the parish
of st. Mnry'S Catholic Church ON
South Fourth street. near |. Gust
street. Philadelphia. where his remains
still lie.
Thus lived and died John Barry,
strong, brave and true. Faithful to
his country, faithful to Church ana
faithful to every domestic obligation,
this noble officer and patriot Whose
earlier career is so linked with our
history rs 4 country. must be N Hnnrrd
| while men rrVrc courage, fidelity. pa.
tl-iotism and conscitncr. 'rheS" viz
tues he had in Distinguished measure,
AND let every, lrislmnn and Catholic
heart take full measure OF pride in tlt
name and fame of that true patriot
Commodore john Barry.