“Give me the centralism of liberty; give me the imperialism of equal rights.”

Not enough here to make an informed comment. On its face, I like it.

I suppose it means that liberty is central to all, and that equal rights cannot be ever taken away — like an emperor's decree, it is 'law.'

If I wanted to glorify pirates and bullies and make them look good, I would want to borrow this quote line.  The gentleman simply suggests the rational stance of positive liberty and the balance of equal rights, and doesn't forget a mannerly polite please and thank-you emphasis.