day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.
This paragraph just further points out Douglass's point on how Americans are using song and celebration as just a mere deception on how the people are covering up their crimes of slavery. If you were a man in the room listening to this speech at this time, how would you react or feel?
Whether we turn to the declarations of the past, or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting.
Douglass points out with this particular statement that the rights for the people never included the African Americans. Never in the past nor during the time period they were in.
Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day?
Asking the citizens if they were mocking him is a very powerful statement. While reading this myself, I was very surprised on how aggressive and unexpected this question.
I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us.
Douglass is finally getting to his main point in his speech about how the Americans and him are separated and that it is greatly defined on this day. The high independence the Americans gained, only led to the torture of slaves.
I remember, also, that, as a people, Americans are remarkably familiar with all facts which make in their own favor. This is esteemed by some as a national trait — perhaps a national weakness.
Douglass points out that Americans usually only point out the facts that favor themselves. This is also very common for some people to still do today in our society. If the Americans during this time looked at both sides, would any of the decisions thought about or discussed have a different outcome?
You may well cherish the memory of such men. They were great in their day and generation.
Would they still be cherished today?
We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
They are stating how they reluctantly have to hold the British as they see everyone else despite what they have done to them. Did American truly not hold onto that grudge? Thomas Jefferson also points out if they continue to fight and start a war then nothing will turn out well for both of the two countries.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
Like Ryan said above, our current president today has made decisions, like the revocation of DACA, that most of the country does not agree with. A lot of the citizens in the states today believe that we should allow the undocumented citizens to stay here, but Trump does not listen to everyone and continues on with his plan.
all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved;
The people are wanting to have no more ties with the British Crown, but did the British fully forfeit their rule over the Americans?
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.
Thomas Jefferson and the other writers point out that beforehand, they have already told the British rule what they do not agree with, but the British instantly turns them down. Also, to what extent is humble?
it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
They are officially announcing why they are breaking away from the British rule and Thomas Jefferson was trying to persuade the people opposing him to recognize the rights they have that the British are taking away.