Memorial Day originated as Decoration Day, an occasion to honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War. Douglass' 1871 speech may be the greatest-ever address associated with this occasion.

The Unknown Loyal Dead Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, on Decoration Day, May 30, 1871 Friends and Fellow Citizens: Tarry here for a moment. My words shall be few and simple. The solemn ...

It was on July 5, 1852, that Frederick Douglass addressed the Ladies’ Antislavery Society in Rochester, N.Y., and delivered what is often described as the greatest abolitionist speech in US history.

Frederick Douglass asked in a historic speech nearly 200 years ago, and Boston readers asked the same again to a crowd gathered in Downtown Crossing early Tuesday afternoon.