Frederick Douglass, the Orator - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection
LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS. 49
the name of this plain, homespun man would fill
America and Europe.
" Mr. Brown kindly consented to occupy a place
on the platform, and at the urgent request of the
audience spoke briefly. It is one of the curious
facts, that many men who can do it are utterly
unable to tell about it. John Brown, a flame of
fire in action, was dull in speech. How many
men are a living flame on the platform, who are
nowhere in action; John Brown taught the
world one lesson among others. If a man fully,
absolutely, believes what he says, and if he has
laid aside all fear, so that death has no terrors for
him, that man is a power, that man is to be
feared."