Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-13
LOCAL AFFAIRS.

LECTURE Br w. J. WATKISs.-A large and
very respectable audience assembled last night
in Israel church, Capitol Hill, TO hear lecture
from the famous colOred orator, Mr.. W. j.
Watkins. There were present a considerable
number of white citizens, anxious 10 hear what
he had to say upon the subject Of "The defects,
the duties, and the probable destiny of the
rolored people of tho United States"
The lecturer commenced by rcmarking that
there are crises in the affairs Of nations well
as of individuals, when the important advice
contained In the sententious and significant
heather aphorism, "know myself" is the
more likely to he appreciated, than when, pO-
/ litlOally speaking, not breath dlsturbs the
sleeping billow, and tranquility sparlles in
every little rill. lie then went on in very
graphic and able manner TO portray the per-
| ilous times In which we live. The Church, he
said, 10 raCked with pains, and the State Is
scorched with fevers. The flames Of civil war
are flashing their lurid 1ros athwart our ma
toms dark horizon. Liberty and slavery are
in the conflict. One or the other must soon
triumph. Colored men, instead of coming to-
gether, simply to denouncc white men, should
lind ont their own defects, strive to eradicate
them, and thus be prepared 10 act well their
part In the great drama of human responsible
ity.
The first most prominent defect among col
ored men Is, said he, lack of unity. They
want what Kossuth calls Solidarity" In view
Of tho combined efforts for their destruction,
the determination Of the white man TO crush
out their vitality, they should rally together as
one man. In union there Ia strength. The
converse Of this proposition Is also true. They
can accomplish nothing but their own degrade.
ton by disuniOn. Drive the hydra-headed mon
. ster TO its native hell.
Secondly. COlOred men and women are mol
sufficiently sensitive to the indlgnitlcs heaped
! upon them by tho imperious and dominant
= Anglo-saxon. They do not feel, az they should
their condition. They appear, as n race, toe
happy in their chains, and from this fact, thI
white man deduces an argument In favor o
= slavery az their normal condition. The worn
when abused, will writhe, and roll over. The
black man has not yet rolled over. He SHOULD
develop his manhood, a. the worm does III
2 wormhood The religion of the COlOred maj
I taught him TO submit to the oppresEor. AVA.
with this nonsense. White preachers tell then
It will he all right in the new Jerusalem. Blu
= he wanted little new Jerusalem here, just Xix
the white man does.
I Thirdly. Colored men lack elevated aspira
lions. They are too well satisfied with occu
= pying the position of servants. They need NOR
q selC-TespeCt as well as sclf-rellanCe. Let then
respect themselves, and they will be respected
As for him, he does not ask the white man 70
~ his sympathy; but give him his rights az ma
and a citizen of this Republic. He dwell q
some length and in very forclble manner, upo
n this point.
Fourthly. They were not disposed 10 max
the necessary sacrifices for liberty. This Wa
a burning disgrace. They should prove thu
they count all things but drosB, 10 they ohIal
their God-givPn rights.
=, He then proceeded to speak of their dutic
They should study the signs of the times, Us u
white man does. He said they should not
satisfied with declaimIng about equality, b.
'e demonstrate II by their acts. Let the viii
man know that, come veal or Voc, atiluence
IL penury, life or death, you are determined TO
!, free. They should do all in their power to u
'' slst those who assist them.
Oh lie then went on to speak Of the RCpubliCI
Is, party. He had voted for Lincoln, and W
ia proud of ii. Though his principles were not
every respect what the cOlored man desire
vet he should be willing to live for him, fg
for him. and If need be- DR for him.
w The probable destiny of the COlored race, I
In speaker thought, is the establishment of
M powerful nationality on this continent, and Il
war would cOnduCe to this result. He allud
to the Virulent prejudice which had been {
non gendered by the white man in consequence
Il. The black man would ultimately seek
"I congenlal home, where he could be his o'
ruler. He spoke of the fifteen millions Of
race on this continent, and said they would !
nb- consolidate their fOrces. The Southern sta
off would yet fall into their hands. slaye-hold
,h. might as well begin to Yacate the premlS
'"' Here he was quite elaborate.
an We have only given some Of the Promln'
points of this interesting and eloquent lectu
In which the speaker fully sustained the repu
ALL. ton he has achieved as an orator.