I am no less so towards my countrymen, the Mahomedans.  And as such they have a greater claim upon my attention than Englishmen.  My personal religion however enables me to serve my countrymen without hurting Englishmen or for that matter anybody else.  What I am not prepared to do to my blood-brother I would not do to an Englishman, I would not injure him to gain a kingdom.  But I would withdraw co-operation from him if it becomes necessary as I had withdrawn from my own brother (now deceased) when it became necessary.  I serve the Empire by refusing to partake in its wrong.  William Stead offered public prayers for British reverses at the time of the Boer war because he considered that the nation to which he belonged was engaged in an unrighteous war.  The present Prime Minister risked his life in opposing that war and did everything he could to obstruct his own Government in its prosecution.  And to-day if I have thrown in my lot with the Mahomedans, a large number of whom, bear no friendly feelings towards the British, I have done so frankly as a friend of the British and with the object of gaining justice and of thereby showing the capacity of the British constitution to respond to every honest determination when it is coupled with suffering, I hope by my ‘alliance’ with the Mahomedans to achieve a threefold end—­to obtain justice in the face of odds with the method of Satyagrah and to show its efficacy over all other methods, to secure Mahomedan friendship for the Hindus and thereby internal peace also, and last but not least to transform ill-will into affection for the British and their constitution which in spite of the imperfections weathered many a storm.  I may fail in achieving any of the ends.  I can but attempt.  God alone can grant success.  It will not be denied that the ends are all worthy.  I invite Hindus and Englishman to join me in a full-hearted manner in shouldering the burden the Mahomedans of India are carrying.  Theirs is admittedly a just fight.  The Viceroy, the Secretary of State, the Maharaja of Bikuner and Lord Sinha have testified to it.  Time has arrived to make good the testimony.  People with a just cause are never satisfied with a mere protest.  They have been known to die for it.  Are a high-spirited people like the Mahomedans expected to do less?

SPEECH AT MADRAS

Addressing a huge concourse of people of the city of Madras Hindus and Mahomedans numbering over 50,000, assembled on the South Beach opposite to the Presidency College, Madras, on the 12th August 1920, Mahatma Gandhi spoke as follows:—­

Mr. Chairman and Friends,—­Like last year, I have to ask your forgiveness that I should have to speak being seated.  Whilst my voice has become stronger than it was last 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 important question, probably a question whose importance we have not measured up to now.