Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/678

 388 NON-CO-OPERATION

principles, and can have mothing to do with the con venience or safety of individuals. In a body of co- workers, you cannot make distinctions between man and nja,n, and the humblest of them is entitled to the same ptotection at the hands of the leaders as the most pro- minent. Scores, if not hundreds of our men have willingly gone to gaol for using language far less strong than that indulged by the Brothers. Some al least of these could easily have been saved by giving a similar apology and undertaking, and yet it never occurred to any ore to advise them to do so. On the contrary, their artion was applauded by the leaders and the whole of the Non-Co-operatiomst pres r ;. Trn ca->e. which more forcibly than any other corner to rny mind at the moment, is that of Hamid Ahmad, who has recently been sentenced at Allahabad to iranspo.nation for life and forfeiture of property. Is there any reason why this man should not be saved ? I fiixl Matilana Muhammad All pays him a high tribute in his Bombay speech of the 30th May. What consolation this tribute will bring to Hamid Ahmad from a man sunilary situated who has saved himself by an apology and an undertaking, I cannot say. Then there are so manv others rotting in ga.ol who have committed no oflfence, and a great many more already picked out for the. same fate Is it enough for us to send them our good wishes from the safe posi- tions we ourselves enjoy ?

t: The Viceroy in his speech has made it clear, that the only definite result of the several interviews you had with him, is the apology and the undertaking fronj the Brothers. You have also made it quite clear in your subsequent speeches, that our campaign is to go on unabated. It seems that no point involving any

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