THE BLACK HERO OF HAYTI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1989, 7 April 1892, Page 19

THE BLACK HERO OF HAYTI.

A lecture was delivered in the Choral Hall on Tuesday evening by the Rev. Frank W. Isitt on "The Black Hero of Hayti — Napoleon's Noblest Victim." There was a fair audience, but not by any means so large a oiio a$ there should have been considering the character of the lecture; , The chair was taken by Mr R. T. Booth, the temperance orator, who is on a visit to this colony on account of his health. Mr Booth made a characteristic but brief speech in opening, remarking that though this was the first time he had acted as chairman, he had himself suffered many things from chairmen, even to hearing his own stories, and perhaps the very one he relied upon as a climax included in the few preliminiiry remarks which his chairman took about 20 minutes to deliver. Having thus intimated that he knew what a chairma'n's speech ought not to be, Mr Booth gave a very good sample of what it ought to be by directing attention to the subject without anticipating the substance of the lecture and emphasising the importance of history and biography.

The Rev. F. W. Isrrr then delivered his historical aud biographical lecture on " Tho Black Hero of Hayti," Touissaut I'Ouverture, whose career, during tho period from 179 V to 1803, was such that the lecturer- asserted he was entitled to take rank amongst the greatest men of any country, or of any age. - From being a docile slave, this man, after he had reached the age of 50, became a great leader, the liberator of his people ;a brilliant general, by his marvellous military skill, defeating the Spaniards, the English, and the French ; and a noble statesman, ruling with wisdom, righteousness, and mercy. The lecturer was eloquent throughout, and completely carried his audience with him, so that even the account of the defeat of the British troops was applauded ; the sympathy, of the audience being strongly with the man who was fighting for the freedom of his countrymen against those Mho would have re-enslaved them. The story ef the baseness and perfidy used to entrap l'Ouverture and of his shameful treatment in France was powerfully told, and the contrast drawn between the heroic negro and the tyrant, whose victim he was, was not less effective. The rev. lecturer said that this man, concerning whom history records no evil, had as his biograijhcrs a x'ace who despised his race, and who hated his personality because of the successes he achieved over them. It certainly will be a matter for regret if so interesting an account oMhis man, remarkable as a soldier, a statesman, and a Christian, is not repeated by •the lecturer to a much larger audience in this city.