Frederick Douglass, the Orator - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection
LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS. 289
world. Lincoln and Grant were such men, but
I cannot think of anyone now, except President
Cleveland and ex-President Harrison, who are
ex officio^ so to speak, our world-Tvide celebrities.
Dr. Holmes was the last of our men of letters
who had this world-wide fame, and no other class
of men or of women seems to have produced an
international character in our time. Our great
lawyers are perhaps known by lawyers the world
over; our great physicians by physicians, clergymen
by clergymen, journalists by journalists,
business men by business men, and so on; but
where is the man or woman who is known in all
countries by people of all classes ? " These are
but samples of the many comments which his
death called forth.
There have been other men in the history of
our country who have risen from humble beginnings
to places of power and influence. Lincoln
was a rail splitter, Grant was a tanner, Garfield
was a canal driver. These men had no such obstacles
to overcome, however, as this man had.
They were not identified with a despised race.
They were not born slaves. Public sentiment
was not against them. The schools and colleges
of the land were not closed to them. Every
avenue was open to them. In his case, however,
the very reverse was true. And yet, in spite of
his environments, with everything to discourage
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