Gentlemen, I need hardly tell you that the most important question of
the hour is the question of self-government. Upon the solution of this
question depends the solution of many other questions, upon which again
depend the full development of our nationality and if for the whole of
last year we have been putting forth our best energies and our earnest
efforts in the cause of Home Rule or self-government it is because we
feel--I feel and many of my friends feel--that unless and until we have
the government of this country in our own hands it is impossible to
carry on the work of nation building. (Hear, Hear). Gentlemen, we could
afford to be idle in the past when we hoped that the Government would
do everything for us. But now after 150 years of British rule, where do
we find ourselves? If you consider our position, the actual realities
of our position to-day after 150 years of British rule, you will at
once see that we are in a hopeless condition.