"As with rivers so with nations" (59).
At the beginning of the speech, Douglass provides an extended portrait of rivers. He notes that sometimes, rivers fertilize the land around them while other times, they become violent and leave destruction in their wake. Worst of all, a river can dry up entirely, leaving nothing but a barren landscape. Douglass metaphorically equates rivers with nations to establish early on that the fate of America at this point in time is relatively uncertain.
“From the round top of your ship of state, dark and threatening clouds may be seen" (63).
In this metaphor, Douglass compares the country to a ship approaching a massive storm. Here, he suggests that difficult times lie ahead for the country while slavery continues. Many have interpreted this warning to his audience as a prediction of the Civil War, which began nearly a decade later.
“It has made itself the bulwark of American slavery, and the shield of American slave-hunters" (79).
Here, Douglass uses the metaphor of a bulwark—a defensive wall or structure—to criticize the Christian Church in America for enabling and supporting the existence of slavery. Here, Douglass suggests that not only does the Church remain silent when they should be actively challenging the slave trade, but that in their silence they have actually come to defend and protect slavery in the country.
“You are all on fire at the mention of liberty for France or for Ireland; but are as cold as an iceberg at the thought of liberty for the enslaved of America” (85-86).
In this simile, Douglass compares his own audience to a frigid iceberg, suggesting that they hypocritically express passion for freedom of other peoples, but ignore or deny such freedom to those enslaved in their own country.
"No abuse, no outrage whether in taste, sport or avarice, can now hide itself from the all-pervading light" (91).
At the conclusion of his speech, Douglass uses the metaphor of light to suggest his hope for the future. For Douglass, the abolition of slavery and the true equality of all men is swiftly approaching, and he sees this free world as a sweeping light that will chase out all darkness or evil.
