Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/522

 EARLIER INDIAN SPEECHES

We should suffer to the utmost of our ability and even lay down our Jives to defend the Empire, If the Empire perishes, with it perish our cherished aspira- tions.

WAYS AND MEANS OF SWARAJ.

The easiest and the straightest way, therefore, to win Swarajya is to participate in the defence of the Empire. It is rot within our power to give much money. Moreover, it is not money that will win the war. Only an inexhaustible army can do it. That army, India can supply If the Empire wins mainly with the help of our army, it is obvious that we would secure the righst we want.

Some will say that if we do not secure those rights just i ow, we would be cheated of them afterwards. The power acquired in defending the Empire will be the power that can secure those rights. Rights won by making an opportunity of the Empire's weakness are likely to be lost when the Empire gains its strength. We cannot be partners of the Empire by embarrassing it. Embarrassment in its hoar of crisis will not avail to secure the rights we needs must win by serving it. To distrust the statesmen of the Empire is to distrust our own strength, it is a sign of our own weakness. We should not depend for our rights on the goodness or the weakness of the statesmen. We should depend on our fitness, our strength. Ths Native States are helping the empire and they are getting their reward. The rich are rendering full financial assistance to Govern- ment and they are likewise getting their reward. The assistance in either case is rendered conditionally. The sepoys are rendering their services for their salt and for their livelihood. They get their livelihood, and pzeris

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