Page:Bal Gangadhar Tilak, his writings and speeches.djvu/15

 in the end where he stands to-day, as one of the two or three leaders of the Indian people who are in their eyes the incarnations of the national endeavour and the Godgiven captains of the national aspiration. His life, his character, his work and endurance, his acceptance by the heart and the mind of the people are a stronger argument than all the reasonings in his speeches, powerful as these are, for Swaraj, Self-government, Home Rule, by whatever name we may call the sole possible present aim of our effort, the freedom of the life of India, its self-determination by the people of India. Arguments and speeches, do not win liberty for a nation ; but where there is a will in the nation to be free and a man to embody that will in every action of his life and to devote his days to its realisation in the face of every difficulty and every suffering, and where the will of the nation has once said, "This man and his life mean what I have in my heart and my purpose," that is a sure signpost of the future which no one has any excuse for mistaking. That indomitable will and that unwavering devotion have been the whole meaning of Mr. Tilak's life ; they are the reason of his immense hold on the people. For be does not owe his pre-eminent position to any of the causes which have usually made for political leading in India, wealth tand great social position, professional success, recognition by Government, a power of fervid oratory or of