Page:Allan Octavian Hume, C.B.; Father of the Indian National Congress.djvu/180

 and in regard to which there is really no difference of opinion amongst us."

But this involves a double mistake. In the first place, though v^e differ amongst ourselves as to v^idow re-marriage, there is nothing in such diversity of opinion to prevent our combining, if we are true patriots working unselfishly for our country^ s good, to press as one man for those representative institutions in regard to v^hich v^e are all agreed. In the second place no great political progress can ever be made unless a somev^hat corresponding progress is being made in all other lines. One man must take up political, another social, another mental, another moral, another physical reform. And no one man or body of men can v^ork too hard at, or make too much fuss over, his or their special line of reform, since push ahead as far as he or they may, they v^rill only stimulate the champions of other causes to greater exertions and probably to still further advance in their special lines, and thus only amidst this generous rivalry of well doing in a dozen different directions will the nation grow and develop symmetrically in greatness and goodness. Every true son of India, however much he may differ from you as to methods, knows well that the reforms you aim at are noble and necessary ones, and every true son of India ought to feel it to be a sin against his country to say an unkind word against, or attribute the smallest unworthy motive to, one who is struggling so earnestly and unselfishly to advance in one direction that country's cause. I myself have devoted my life to political reform, but I none the less reverence those good and high-minded men who are every- where (though all too few in numbers) labouring to raise-, the moral tone of the people, none the less sympathize with?! those learned and highly-cultured men who are striving to promote their education, or with those hearty honest men who desire by promoting athletic sports and games to raise their physique, and a fortiori is my heart none the less with those earnest and unselfish workers who, like yourself, are giving their lives to the cause of social reform. I can under- stand our differing amongst ourselves as to matters of