Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/244

 In the Provincial Conference (May 1915) in moving the resolution of condolence to Mr. Gokhale's family Mr. Tilak described how he was partially responsible- for introducingMr. Gokhale into the field of public life. This chivalry towards his political opponents has been markedly displayed by him on several occassions and it reflects great credit on Mr. Tilak, whose heart, stern and unbending though it was in political warfare, always responded to every note of affliction. In November 1915 died Sir P. M. Mehta mourned by Mr. Tilak and the country at large.

Towards the British Empire, in its hour of danger, he was equally chivalrous. We have already seen how, immediately on the outbreak of the great War (1914)^ Mr. Tilak publicly declared his willingness to co-operate with the Government. He suggested the raising of a citizen army. But, though even the most Moderate leaders enthusiastically favoured the idea, the Bureaucrats rejected the spontaneous offer of help frcm educated India. Of course, we were all patted on the back for the " fine Imperialistic instinct," but in this life-and- death struggle with Germany, instead of availing themselves of help from whatever quarter it came, the powers that be confined the work of raising recruits only to those classes who were devoid of all patriotic conscious- ness. Had the attention of Mr. Asquith's Government been drawn to India's eagerness to fight for the Empire, America's help would have been superflous and conscription in England would nor have been necesssary. It was only when Mr. Lloyd George became Premier (December 1916) that the Cabinet called upon the Viceroy to make special efforts to raise recruits in India*