Douglass begins his comparison by noting that both the Fourth of July and Christmas are days of celebration for white Americans. On the Fourth of July, they rejoice in the birth of their nation and the ideals of liberty and equality. On Christmas, they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who they believe came to Earth to save them from their sins.
However, Douglass argues that these holidays have no meaning for slaves. They are not free, so they cannot celebrate the Fourth of July. They are not Christians, so they do not celebrate Christmas. Instead, these holidays are a reminder of their oppression and suffering.
Douglass's comparison between the Fourth of July and Christmas is a powerful indictment of slavery. He shows that these holidays, which are supposed to be days of joy and celebration, are actually a source of pain and suffering for slaves. By doing so, he challenges white Americans to confront the reality of slavery and to work towards its abolition.