Frederick Douglass, the Orator - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection
LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS. 239
who had twice exiled himself from his native
land to escape arrest, first as a fugitive slave, and
then as in complicity with the John Brown conspiracy;
whose friends had actually paid the sum
of ^150—I have this morning read the bill of
sale again—to purchase his freedom from bondage,
and who now acted as the representative of
the United States in the moment of transition
from the term of one President to that of
another.
And if we turn from his public to his private
career, what more striking and unusual scene,
save perhaps Joseph's forgiveness of his brethren,
ever was introduced into the lot of man than his
visit to his old and dying master, so many years
after his escape from bondage ? Was there ever
an experience more pathetic? Was there ever
forgiveness more generous ? We pray," Forgive
us our debts as we forgive our debtors." This
our great Teacher has taught us. The spirit of
forgiveness is the»basis on which we stand before
God, who has so much to forgive in us; is the
spirit which fits us for the kingdom of heaven.
MR. DOUGLASS* ELOQUENCE.
I come now to the last ground on which I
think Mr. Douglass should be congratulated. By
many it would be thought of first. Mr. Douglass
was fortunate in his endowments as an orator.