DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49382#0213
THE KING’S APPEAL TO HIS PEOPLE.
131
else could have done of demonstrating the courage, bravery, and
tenacity of her troops even when pitted against the best organized
armies of the world, and also the capacity of her sons of all classes,
creeds, and nationalities to rise as one people under the stimulus of an
overpowering emotion. That the wave of loyalty which has swept
over India has touched the hearts of all classes has been ungrudgingly
admitted even by unfriendly critics. The Bengali is just as anxious to
fight under the banner of His Majesty the King-Emperor as the Sikh
and the Pathan, and those of them to whom an opportunity has been
given to serve, either in ambulance, postal, or despatch work, have
shown as utter a disregard of danger and devotion t< > duty as others
employed in the more arduous work of fighting. India has risen to
the occasion, and her Princes and peoples have vied with each other
in rallying round the Imperial standard at a time when the enemies
of the Empire counted on disaffection and internal troubles. The
spectacle afforded a striking proof, as much of the wisdom of those
statesmen who have in recent years guided the destiny of this British
Empire in India, as of the fitness of the Indian people to grasp the
dignity and the responsibility of citizenship of a world-wide Empire.
Nor must we forget to tender to the families of those who have laid
down their lives in the glorious cause, our sincere and respectful
sympathy.
“ Brother delegates,—Doubts have been expressed in some quarters
as to the wisdom of the Congress assembling while the war is still
going on. It has been suggested that discussions of political problems
might be misconstrued as an attempt to advance individual national
interests at a time of Imperial stress. I do not think that such
apprehensions are well founded. If we had any doubt as to the ultimate
success of England, we might well hesitate to discuss a question which
can only arise after the war is over and peace is concluded. We
want to make it perfectly clear that there is no one among us willing to
cause the slightest embarrassment to the Government. We seek to make
no capital out of the service so ungrudgingly rendered by our country-
men to the Empire, There is not, I trust, a single person in our camp who
131
else could have done of demonstrating the courage, bravery, and
tenacity of her troops even when pitted against the best organized
armies of the world, and also the capacity of her sons of all classes,
creeds, and nationalities to rise as one people under the stimulus of an
overpowering emotion. That the wave of loyalty which has swept
over India has touched the hearts of all classes has been ungrudgingly
admitted even by unfriendly critics. The Bengali is just as anxious to
fight under the banner of His Majesty the King-Emperor as the Sikh
and the Pathan, and those of them to whom an opportunity has been
given to serve, either in ambulance, postal, or despatch work, have
shown as utter a disregard of danger and devotion t< > duty as others
employed in the more arduous work of fighting. India has risen to
the occasion, and her Princes and peoples have vied with each other
in rallying round the Imperial standard at a time when the enemies
of the Empire counted on disaffection and internal troubles. The
spectacle afforded a striking proof, as much of the wisdom of those
statesmen who have in recent years guided the destiny of this British
Empire in India, as of the fitness of the Indian people to grasp the
dignity and the responsibility of citizenship of a world-wide Empire.
Nor must we forget to tender to the families of those who have laid
down their lives in the glorious cause, our sincere and respectful
sympathy.
“ Brother delegates,—Doubts have been expressed in some quarters
as to the wisdom of the Congress assembling while the war is still
going on. It has been suggested that discussions of political problems
might be misconstrued as an attempt to advance individual national
interests at a time of Imperial stress. I do not think that such
apprehensions are well founded. If we had any doubt as to the ultimate
success of England, we might well hesitate to discuss a question which
can only arise after the war is over and peace is concluded. We
want to make it perfectly clear that there is no one among us willing to
cause the slightest embarrassment to the Government. We seek to make
no capital out of the service so ungrudgingly rendered by our country-
men to the Empire, There is not, I trust, a single person in our camp who