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On Saturday night, Frederick Douglass delivered a lecture at this place, on the subject of San Domingo. His coming was unexpected and accidental. He had lectured in Chambersburg the evening before, and at the request of some of his people consented to deliver a lecture here on his return. Although there was no general notice of the lecture given, there was a fair audience in attendance, most of whom were doubtless attracted by a curiosity to see and hear one who is considered justly the foremost man of his race.
It is needless to comment on his lecture. It demonstrated to every intelligent man who heard it, that the lecturer was a man of remarkable intellect, a scholar of fine culture, a vigorous and independent thinker, and an orator of very remarkable force and power. He spoke fully two hours, and to an audience not usually inclined to tolerate long speeches, and yet there were few present who would not willingly have heard him at greater length. Certainly it will not be disputed that his lecture surpassed any similar performance, with which we have been favored during many years.
Mr. Douglass is, perhaps, now the most remarkable character in public life. Born a slave, and of a race which the charlatans of our earlier politics, taught us to believe were consigned to Slavery by Divine command, he has, by his own genius and force of character, brought himself to the notice and respectful consideration of the wisest and best men of this country and Europe. To most men, even with fair advantages of birth and education, the mere struggle for existence is sufficient employment, and to obtain even local reputation for any sort of superiority, unusual and exhausting effort is necessary. The man who wins in the race of life, even when he starts in advance of his fellows, and when assisted by the influence of others, is conceded to have strength and merit. When in view of this we see a runaway slave transform himself into a man of refinement and culture, and who, by the sheer force of his intellect becomes a power in a nation, where his race are serfs, we may be sure that in him are qualities of a high order.
