Frederick Douglass, the Orator - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection
294 LIFE 0F FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
read his life carefully and I have had the honor
of knowing him intimately for a number of years,
and, as I look back over those years, I can recall
nothing that would in any way justify such an
accusation. In the summary which he gives at
the close of Part Second of his life, we get a true
insight into the spirit which animated him during
his long and eventful life, as well as the
motives which prompted him to make a record of
that life. He says: " It will be seen in these
pages that I have lived several lives in one : first,
the life of slavery; secondly, the life of a fugitive
from slavery; thirdly, the life of comparative freedom;
fourthly, the life of conflict and battle;
fifthly, the life of victory, if not complete, at least
assured. To those who have suffered in slavery
I can say, I, too, have suffered. To those who
have taken some risks and encountered hardships
in the flight from bondage I can say, I, too, have
endured and risked. To those who have battled
for liberty, brotherhood, and citizenship I can say,
I, too, have battled. And to those who have lived
to enjoy the fruits of victory I can say, I, too, live
and rejoice. If I have pushed my example too
prominently for the good taste of my Caucasian
readers, I beg them to remember, that I have
written in part for the encouragement of a class
whose aspirations need the stimulus of success.
" I have aimed to show them that knowledge