Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/298

 208 THE KAIRA QUK6TION

he saw that they held a different) view. The revenue of India will be DO more in danger because a Commissioner yields to the popular demands and grants concessions- lhan the administration of justice was in danger when Mrs. Ma} brick was reprieved purely in obedience to the* popular will, or the Empire was in danger because a corner of a mosque in Cawnpore was replaced in obedience to the same demand, Had I hesitated to advise the people to stand firm against) the Commissioner's refusal to listen to their prayer, instead of taking the open* and healthy course it has taken, their discontent would have burrowed under and bred ill-will. That] son is a true eon of bis father who rather than harbour ill-will against him, frankly but respectfully tells him all he feels and equally respectfully resists him } if he cannot truth- fully obey his commands. I apply the same law to the relations between the Government and the people. There cannot be seasons when a man must suspend his oon- soienoe. But just as a wise father will quickly agree- with his son and not inoour his ill-will! especially if the family was in danger from without, even so a wise Government will quickly agree with the ryots rather than incur their displeasure. War oanncb be permitted to give a license to the officials to exact obedience to their orders, even though the ryots may consider them so be unreasonable and unjust,

The Commissioner steels the hearts of the ryota for continuing their course by telling them that for a revenue of four lakhs of rupees he will for ever confiscate over a hundred and fifty thousand acres of land worth over three orores of ruieee, and for ever dtclara the holders, their wives and children unworthy of holding any lands in Kaira, He considers the ryots to be misguided and

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