Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/629

 you that I used to tell him that he was unjust when his plans were based upon immoral foundation. I used to tell him that he did not stand for tiuth. There \sas no anger in ir,e. I told him this home truth because I loved him. In the same manner, I tell the British people that I love thenvand that I want their association but I want that association on conditions veil cleaned. I want my self- res^ect'and I want my absolute equality with them. If I cannot gain that equality from the British people I do not want that British connection. Jf I have to let the British people go and import terrporaiy disorder and dislocation of national business, I will favour that disorder and dislo- cation than that I should have injustice from the hands of a gieat nation such as the British nation. You will find that by the time the whole chapter is closed that the suc- cessois of Mr. Montagu will give me the credit for having rendeied the most distirguished seivice that I have yet rendered to the Empire, in having offpred this non-co- operation and in having suggested the boycott, not of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, but of boycott of a visit engineered by the Goveinment in order to tighten its hold on the national neck. I will not allow it even it I stand alone, if I cannot persuade this nation not to welcome that vis-it but will boycott that visit with all the power at my command. It is for that reason I stand before you and implore you to offer this religious battle, but it is not a battle offered to )ou by a visionaiy or a saint. I deny being a visionary. I do not accept the claim of saimliness. I am of the earth, earthy, a common gardener man as much as any one of you, probably much more than you are. I am prone to as many weaknesses as you are. But I have seen the world. I have lived in the world with my eyes open. I have gone through the most fiery ordeals that

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