Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/310

 220 THB KAIRA QUESTION

The officials have failed to ba popular because of their obstinacy, because of their mistaken belief that they should never admit being in the wrong and because of their having made ib a fetish that ib should never ba said of them that they had yielded to anything like popular agitation. Ib grieves us bo offer this criticism. Bub we have parmibfced ourselves bo do so as their friends. A TRIBtJTE TO KAIRA PEOPLE

Bub though the official attitude is thus unsatisfactory, our prayer has been granted and it is our duby to accept per cent- of the assessment remaining unpaid, Ib was a poicb of honour with us till now to refuse payment. Conditions having materially altered ib is a point of honour for a Satyagrahi to pay up the assessment. Those who can afford should pay without causing the Govern" ment the slighteat'troubla and thus show that, when there is no conflict between the dictates of conscience and those of man-made law they are able to compel anybody to obey the law of the land. A Satyagrahi sometimes ap- pears momentarily to disobey laws and the constituted authority, only to prove in the end his regard for both.

In making a lisb of bhoae who are unable to pay we should apply a test so rigid that no one can challenge our finding. Those whose inoapaoiby for payment is at all in doubt should consider ib their duty to pay. The final decision as to the inoapaoiby for payment will rest with the authorities* but we believe that the judgment of the people will have its full weight.

HONOUR OF A SATYAG'RAHI

By their courage the people of Kaira have drawn the attention of the whole of India, Daring the last six months they have had full taste of the fruits of observing

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