Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/840

 750 ON THE EVE OF AKREST

that he was entirely fair to me in all the statements that he has made, because it is very true and I have no desire whatsoever to conceal from this Court the fact that to preach disaffection towards the existing system of Government has become almost a passion with me. And the learned Advocate-General is also entirely in the light when he says that my preaching of disaffec- tion did nor commence with my connection with "Young India" but that it commenced much earlier, and in the statement that I am about to read it will be my painful duty to admit before this Court that it commen- ced much earlier than the period stated by the Advocate-General. It is the most painful duty with me but I have to discharge that duty knowing the respon- sibility that rested upon my shoulders.

And 1 wish to endorse all the blame that the Advocate-General has thrown on my shoulders in connection with the Bombay occurrences, Madras occurrences and the Chouri Choura occurrences. Thinking over these things deeply, and sleeping over them night after night and examining my heart I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible for me to dissociate myself from the diabolical crimes of Chouri Choura or the mad outrages of Bombay. He is quite right when he says that as a man of responsibility, a man having received a fair share of education, having had a fair share of experience of this world, I should know the consequences of every one of my acts. I knew them. I knew that I was playing with fire. I ran the risk and if I was set free I would still do the same. I would be failing in my duty if I do not do so. I have felt it this morning that I would have failed in my duty if I did not say all what I said here just now. I wanted to avoid

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