१८५७ का स्वातन्त्र्य समर (वीर विनायक दामोदर सावरकर - अंग्रेजों द्वारा छपने से पूर्व प्रतिबन्धित महाग्रन्थ)

CONCLUSION
Even had these people thoroughly understood at least
so much that creation comes only after the Deluge, the
Revolution would have succeeded. But, let alone crea-
tion, the country could not accomplish even the deluge
thoroughly ! And, why ? Because, the vice of treachery
and baseness had not yet gone away from the land. The
defeat was chiefly due to the treachery of those men who
had not sense enough to understand that the English
power was more harmful than even the former kind of
Swaraj ever could be, and of those who had not the
honesty and patriotism to refuse to give help to the
foreigner against their own countrymen.¹
And the whole sin of this defeat lies on the head of these
traitors ! Had there been a clear and attractive ideal,
even the traitors would have become patriots. When
patriotism is profitable and paying, there is no advantage
in playing the risky and shameful part of the betrayer.

1. "Yet it must be admitted that, with all their courage, they
   (the British) would have been quite exterminated if the natives
   had been all and altogether, hostile to them. The desperate de-
   fences made by the garrisons were no doubt heroic ; but the natives
   shared their glory, and they by their aid and presence rendered
   the defence possible. Our siege of Delhi would have been quite
   impossible, if the Rajas of Patiala and Jhind had not been our
   friends and if the Sikhs had not recruited in our battalions and
   remained quiet in the Punjab. The Sikhs at Lucknow did good
   service, and in all cases our garrisons were helped, fed, and served
   by the natives, as our armies were attended and strengthened by
   them in the field. Look at us all, here in camp, at this moment !
   Our outposts are native troops, natives are cutting grass for our
   horses and grooming them, feeding the elephants, managing the
   transports, supplying the commissariat which feeds us, cooking our
   soldiers' food, clearing their camp, pitching and carrying their tents,
   waiting on our officers, and even lending us their money. The
   soldier who acts as my amanuensis declares that his regiment could
   not have lived a week but for the regimental servants, Doli bearers,
   hospital men, and other dependants. Gurkha guides did good ser-
   vice at Delhi and the Bengal artillerymen were as much exposed
   as the Europeans."—Russell's My Diary in India.
   543