Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/879

 Such being the hold that the doctrine of the sword lias on the majority of mankind, and as success of non- oo-operation depends principally on the absence of Violence daring its pendency and as my views in this matter affect the conduct of a large number of people, I am anxious to state them as clearly as possible,

I do balieve that, where there is only a choice be- tween cowardice and violence, I would advise violence. Thus when my eldest son asked me what he should bave done, had be been present when I was almost fatally assaulted in 1908, whether he flhould have run away and seen me killed or whether he should have used bis physical force which he could and wanted to use, and defended me, T told him that it was his duty to defend me even by using violence. Hence it was that I book part in the Boer War, the so-called Zulu rebellion and the )a f e War. Henre also do T advocate training in arms for thope who believe in fcha method of violence, I would rather bave India resort to arms in order to defend her honour than that she should in a cowardly manner become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonour.

But I believe that non-violence ia infinitely supe- rior to violence, forgiveness adorns a soldier, But abstinence is forgiveness only when there is the power to punish ; it is meaningless when it pretends to pro- ceed from a helpless creature. A mouse hardly forgives a oat when it allows itself to be torn to pieces by her* I therefore appreciate the sentiment of those who cry out for the condign punishment of General Dyer and hie ilk. They would tear him to pieces if they could- But I do not believe India to be helpless. I do not believe

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