Well, gentlemen, that is the ideal I put before you and I ask you to
consider all this in the scheme which you will frame. But there is one
thing to which I desire to draw your attention and it is this; that
in framing this scheme you must not be swayed by a feeling that the
Government will not grant this, the Government will not grant that.
What the Government will grant and what the Government will not grant,
that is the business of the Government. We have got only to consider
what is necessary for our national well-being. We have no doubt got
to consider the question of our capacity, but we have got to consider
what is necessary for our national well being and if you find that
certain steps are absolutely necessary for our national development, do
not fail, gentlemen, to put that down in your scheme out of timidity.
I ask you not to be timid. Do not be foolhardy, but there is no
necessity of being afraid of putting forward the whole of your scheme
before the Government. People who are afraid to ask do not deserve.
Why should we be afraid to tell the Government that a certain scheme
of self-government is necessary for our well-being. The Government
invites your opinion. The British Government has declared its policy;
the Viceroy has asked you to consider the scheme and do not, for God's
sake, spoil that by timidity. Say, there are five items, all of which
we want; but let us not ask 2 or 3 of these because the Government
will not grant all. I say it is no business of ours and I do not think
that at the present moment when the Government is full of that truly
imperial idea, when the King's ministers have declared the policy
of the Government to grant to this country some kind of responsible
self-government, I do not think any scheme which is reasonable, any
scheme which is necessary will be refused.
What, if it is refused? Have we not to carry on this fight from year to
year, supposing the whole of it is not granted to-day. Have we not to
place that scheme before the public--have we not to fight for it year
to year, giving the whole of our attention, devoting the whole of our
energy to that, and go on fighting till victory is ours? I have seen
a great many schemes fail because of our timidity. I ask you to be on
your guard because the present is the most opportune moment, because
the Government has invited your opinion and in giving your opinion
do not think that we ought not to put this or that down because the
Government will not accept this.