The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-08-23
LECTURING ON LIBERIA.

that Rev. +. j. Adams, of Liberi,n motor;
ETY., would deliver lecture at tho Cour
House IN our town, on the evening of tb,
9th OF August, on the Exodus movement
AT an early hour the dusky crowd began tc
pour In town, and to assemble in groups and
Knots at the corners about the Court House
all engaged in discussing both sides of the
question OF to so or not to 90 to Liberia -
AT the appointed time the speaker arrived
and was conducted TO the stand and ;n,ro'
duced to the audience by L. d. Richardson
Esq. ''''' ''10''
Mr.. Adams appears to be about Go years
with the frosts 81 many winters, he IS quite
venerable in appearance. About six feet
high, well built, and dressed in suit of
black cloth, he is withal fine specimen of
the negro race. His complexion is not
deep black, but has somewhat of an ashy
shade about it. His lips are not so thick
as is usual in the genuine African, which.
with his powerful lungs and splendid teeth,
enables him to speak in clear and often
very musical tone.
The whole drift of his lecture was on the
negative side Of the question, whether it is
wise or unwise for the negro to cmigrate to
Liberia. His first argument was from his
own experience. lie, too, was anxious to
30 to Africa, and in 1868, as a missionary,
he gratificd his ambition. He found it no
place to raise stock That of the forty or
fifty donkeys that were sent out with him
tor the-poorcr emigrants, not one could be
found in two years time. Even the wool
on the back Of sheep would turn to hair
in hn of L.
desire to underratc the land of his fore
fathers that it presented as much beauty
and wealth as any other country on the
globe, but that it was not advisable for
those who had barely means sufficient to get
there to make the change. They should
stay at home, for once they arrived in Lii
IBERIA, if they were disappointed, the gov
ernment would not help them to return to
their native SOIL He analyzed America,
its hcalthfulness, its delightful climate, its
governments, its schools and colleges, all of
which the negro enjoyed equally with the
white man. He contrasted the present con-
dition of the negro with his status in this
country fifteen years ago~ssa haRs}iyalxia,
America then, why conldthey not i've hcfc''
mo,o? Did they wish to get rid Of the
white man ? They need not expect it in
Africa. He is found in the North, the
East, in the South and on the west coast of
Africa. He disabused their minds of the
idea of getting possession of the govern.
ment over there. He had met one negro
from the South who had confessed that he
had gone to Liberia with the expectation of
becoming its Governor; that he had been
waiting for it seventeen years and was not
"Gubner" yet, nor was there any likelihood
OF it if he remained seventeen years lon
ger. Many who had gone there full of such
notions had become destitute and were not
able to return for lack of mcans. He does
not believe that Africa can be Christianized |
BY negro emigration. The religious advan-
tages of the colored people here were con.
trasted with those of Africa, the ignorance
and superstition there and the intelligence
and enlightenment here; the malarial dis
into IF tSc Affsa, ever ready to strike death
hcalthfulness of Our glorious countpy:"'rIlHl ~
advised those who had labored to make the
country what it is to remain here and enjoy
its riches and the blessings of its govern
ment. IF you must emigrate follow the
march of empire and go West, where you
may still enjoy all the advantages OF our
government and raise everything that grows
on the face of the earth that ministers to
the wants and gratifies the taste Of man.
This is only q meagre sketch of his in
teresting lecture. 1t was well received by
majority Of the negroes. Some few OBJ
jected to hearing themselves called negroes,
while others were disappointed in not hear
ing ofsa land where pancakes and fapjacks
grew already cooked upon the trees, and all
that is necessary to get the glasses" to eat
with them is to bore hole through the
bark.
BY the by, the WATERFORD Dramatic
Club still survives. AS the long nights ap
proach they are making every preparation
to entertain the public. They have sent to
New York and purchased necessary scenery,
,whic!, has already arrived. A new stage
has been erected in the Court House, and
rehearsals are now the order of the day.
The firsst entertainments will be on the eve
,nings of the 18th and 10th instant. With
the "old gentleman" with all his life and
sigor, as its president, it abound to succeed
Mems and Courier. NJ