The Irish standard., 1905-01-28
The First Great Leader of Our Navv Was
An Irish Immigrant From tho Village
in the Hills of Wicklow.
John Barry Laid the Foundation of That NAVY,
Whose Achievements Have Made
Us Honored Abroad.

a bill has been introduced into con- I
grcss appropriating money to erect
to Commodore John Barry,
the father of the American navy; and |
as Il cry for economy has gone up it |
may ne that Il mere sentimental project |
like Il monument to Il patriot and hero
like Barry may he thrust aside in order
that funds may he available for some
practical enterprise like the deepening
of 'Tapcworm Bayou, La, or the deep
cning of Yellow Dog Creek in Nevada,
says the Boston Pilot. Under the cir
cumstances il is very pertinent to sug-
gcst that every American who takes a
pride in the valor and sacrifices of the
men of the Revolution and who feels a
genuine patriotic thrill in the achieve
mcntS of the American navy should
Stiircn the backbone of his senator and
congressman in the demand for this
monument since the name of John
Barry is Intimately associated with the
days which tried mcl's souls and With
the deeds nt sea which gave hope to
the American cause and brought re-
spcct and fear to the flag from its
foes.
Monuments stand in many parts Of
the country to men whose deeds seem
paltry beside those of John Barry and
an ordinary sense of gratitude and
self respect would seem to urge this
great prosperous and wealthy republic
to lose no time in placing in her nation
nl capital, or in some city associated
with his fame, some enduring mcmOri-
al TO the men who first met the English
foe at sea and defeated him and who
as first commodore of the American
navy laid broad and deep the fOunda-
tion of our naval greatness.
While wc conceive il to be the duty
Of every American to lend his aid to
the success of this movement, ii is of
special and intimate interest to men of
the Irish race, since the services Of
men Of our race like Barry to this re-
public in all it's years have given us Il
share in the glory of Amcricn which
I cannot be challenged
'"rhe National Portrait Gallery Of
Distinguished Americans" published
in Philadelphia and London, says ''rhc
way of independence was conducted
with a very small naval armament,
which sprang into existence during it's
progress, and was indebted for its sue
ccsses to the genius and prowcss which
the emergencies of the times developed.
John Barry, whose valor and services
were emincntly conspicuous in that
pcrilous conflict, was born in Ireland,
in the county of Wexford, in the year
1745. A passion for a maritime occu-
patton, which he displayed at an early
age, induced his father to place him
board of a merchantmen and the inter-
walls of his voyages were assiduOusly
engaged in the Improvement Of his
mind"
Thus in the little village of Tacum-
shane in the hills of Wicklow, which
later ran red with patriot Irish blood,
and in the year Of Fontcnoy, where
Irish valor destroyed English schemes,
was born this farmers boy who was to
write his name large in American his
tory in the goodly company of Sulli-
van, O'Bricn, Hand, Clinton, Moylan,
Knox, Carroll, Thornton, Rutlelgc and
hundreds of others who served the
struggling colonies on land and sea,
in field and council.
John Barry was about fifteen when
hc made America his home, for penal
! Ireland was a poor place for a bold
I young sea eagle whose wings were
growing; and by the time the revolu-
ton was rife, he abandoned the finest
ship that sailed out of Philadelphia
and his first command as master, to
enter the noble but Improbable service
Of the rebel colonies. He was then a
prosperous man with reputation that
was high among American shipping
merchants and his entrance into the
naval service of the loOsely-joined col
onies meant not only the sacrifice Of
his prospects but held in it the threat