Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/534

 444 EARLIER INDIAN SPEECHES

tion is transformed into agreeable surprise in the mind of the party towards whom Satyagraha is address- ed till at last he relents and recalls the act which necessitated Satyagraha. I venture to promise that if we act up to our Pledge day after day, the atmosphere around us will be purified and those who differ from us from honest motives, as I verily believe they do, will perceive that their alarm was unjustified. The vio- lationists wherever they may be will realise that they have in Satyagraha a far more potent instrument for achieving reform than violence whether secret or open and that it gives them enough work for their inex- haustible energy. And the Government will have no case left m defence of their measures if as a result of our activity the cult of violence is notably on the wane if it has not entirely died out. I hope therefore that at Satyagraha meetings we shall have no cries of shame, and no language betraying irritation or impatience either against the Government or our countrymen who differ from us and some of whom have for years been devoting themselves to the country's cause according to the best of their ability.

��SPEECH AT BOMBAY

[ At the Bombay meeting against the Rowlatt Bills on 14th March, Mr, M. K. Oandhfs speech which was in Cujarati was read out by his secretary. The speech ran as follows : ]

I am sorry that owing to my illness, I am unable to speak to you myself and have to have my remarks read to you. You will be glad to know that Sanyasi Sbrad- dhanandji is gracing the audience to-day by his presence.

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