Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/574

 484 NON- CO-OPERATION

vring. Let them have a living faith in what they urge or let them drop it. We are now beginning to attract millions of our countrymen. We shall deserve their curses if we consciously lead them astray. Whether Hindus or Muhame- dans, we have all got the religious spirit in us. Let it not be undermined by our playing at religion,

��THE AMRITSAR APPEALS.

[Before the end of the year, Indian opinion was greatly exas- perated by the evidence of General Dyer and other Martial Law ad- ministrators before the Hunter Committee which began the enquiry about the end of October. The evidence of the Military officers shock- ed the sentiments of the public which were horrified by the revelations of cruelty and heartlessness. When the Congress met at Amritsar, the scene of the tragedy, feeling ran high arid the President, Pandit Motilal Nehiu,drew up a lengthy indictment against the Government. Just before the day of the session the political prisoners were released as the effect of a Royal Proclamation and Mr. Gandhi exercised a sobering influence over the Congress and even moved a resolution condemning mob excesses though under provocation. But soo*i after the Congress, when he found that the fate of the other prisoners \vas decreed by. the Privy Council's dismissal of their appeals without further trial, he wrote to the press earnestly urging justice for the victims of Martial Lau : ]

So these appeals have been dismissed in spite of the

advocacy of the best counsel that were obtainable. The Privy

Council has confirmed lawless procedure. I must confess

that the judgment does not come upon me quite as a

surprise though the remarks of the judges as Sir Simon was

developing as arguments on behalf of the appellants, led

one to expect a favourable verdict. My opinion based upon

a study of political cases is that the judgments even of the

highest Tribunals are not unaffected by subtle political

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