Evening star., 1914-05-16
Tribute to the Character
of "ll'uStrious Sea Kinq"
by Representative HamiIl

Representative James A. Hamiil of New
Jersey in an address touching briefly on
the achievements of Commodore Barry in
the war of the revolution paid high
tribute to the naval genius, indomitable
courage and purity of purpose of the first
commodore of the American navy. Rep
resentative Hamill saie:
THE chapter OF our country's history
which pictures the period of the revolu-
tion will ever contain for us the richest
sources of patriotic inspiration The
story of that time that tried mems
souls with it's struggles, self-sacrifice and
trials teaches us to comprehend more
vividly the heaven-boru principles and
ideals un WHICH this government was
founded and enables US to estimate more
truly the precious value that attaches to
our common Inheritance of American citi-
zenship.
But history is not an impersonal mat
ter. 1t is woven out of the achievements
and failures, out OF the triumphs and de-
feats. of these whom it describes. and it
cannot be properly understood unless We
penetrate the motives and purposes of the
characters who live in it. Biography,
therefore, has well been termed the key
TO history
And so we now draw aside the curtain
that conceais the past. and Illustrate the
lofty and unselfish patriotism that char
acterized the revolutionary era by con-
templating the life and services of one
of the most glorious in the galaxy of
American immortals. We dedicate this
beautiful May afternoon TO the affection
ate offering Of a grateful nation homa ge
TO his memory and here in the Capital
city unveil this splendid monument so
tina: his fame may flourish as long as
the land he lived and fought for endures,
ana tina, posterity gazing upon it may
rroft by a lively remembrance of the
sterling worth and sincere loyalty of
Americas iIlustrious sea king-Commo-
dore John Barry.
What Name More Worthye
What name on the long and shining
roll OF our heroes Is more fitted to thrill
our pulses or worthier of our unbounded
admiration? What deeds have lent
brighter luster than his to American
arms upon the sea? What services were
more generous or unremitting than those
rendered by Barry? 4 serve the coun-
try for nothing was his remark. and
that service was rendered in ample and
unRrudsing degree.
He threw himself into the revolu-
tionary struggle at the commencement
and he continued in it with unabated
energy and ardor until its close He
commanded the first vessel that put to
sea under authority Of the Continental
Congress; he was first to unfurl from
the masthead the American flag upon
the ocean-the same flag that Washing
ton hoisted at Cambridge In January
1T,6, he captured and carried to his
country as prize the first armed vessel
of war that ever struck her colors tc
an American ship; he commanded the
All anee. the ieetest and stateliest yes
sci Of the continental navy: with hi,
own ship alone he almost invariably ir
naval conflict contended against two YES
sells of the enemy and generally succeed
ed in capturing both as prize. while Il
required two hostile vessels to infiic,
upon him the single naval defeat he evel
exper enced. He superintended the con
struction of the ships which formed the
beginning OF our present navy. he re-
ceived personally from the hand Of
Washington commission No. ]. creating
him ranking officer and head Of tn.
United States Navy; he served al
through the mighty conflict, not onl.
and his tired hands rested from toi
and his great heart ceased TO thro,
for his country only when it was stillet
in death. This prince of American pa
trtots was in truth no ordinary mortal
"In County Wexford, Ireland. Johl
Barry first saw the Light in 1T4o. n.
strange portents marked his advent int
the world. no stars fell from the firma
ment, and as he was born not to h.gl
but humble station. the event of hi
birth was not heralded as something o
great Importance. Ut created scarcel,
a ripple of attention in the quiet rura
townland of Ballysampson. IL wa
merely another soul come to Live am