tast year, my body is still weak; and if I were to attempt to speak to you standing, I could not hold on for very many minutes before the whole frame would shake. I hope, therefore, that you will grant me permission to speak seated. I have sat here to address you on a most import- ant question, probably a question whose importance we have not measured up to now.
LOKAMAYNA TlLAK.
But before I approach that question on this dear old~ beach of Madras, you will expect me you will want me to offer my tribute to the great departed, Lokamanya Tilak Maharaj (Loud and prolonged cheers). I would ask this great assembly to listen to me in silence. I have come to make an appeal to your hearts and to your reason and I could not do so unless you were prepared to listen to what- ever I have to say in absolute silence. I wish to offer my tribute to the departed patriot and I think that I cannot do better than say that his death, as his life, has poured new vigour into the country. If you were present as I was pre- sent at that great funeral procession, you would realise with me the meaning of my words. Mr. Tilak lived for h's country. The inspiration of his life was freedom for his country which he called Swaraj : the inspiration of his death-bed was also freedom for his country. And it was that which gave him such marvellous hold upon his countr)men; it was that which commanded the adoration not of a few chosen Indians belonging *to the upper strata of society but of millions of his countrymen. His life was one long sustained piece of self-sacrifice. He began that life of discipline and self-sacrifice in 1879 an( * ^ e continued that life up to the end of his day, and that was the secret of his hold upon his country. He not only knew what he
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