Page:The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, vol. 2.djvu/233

 there, they would, doubtless, have stepped up when the Chairman asked for hands against the resolution. They must presume none were there, and they wanted no connection with that class of persons.


 * “The resolution had relation to the fair dealing of the Colony of Natal. All but one man on board those boats left India without any reason to suspect that they would not the agreeably received as residents in the colony. One passenger might be reasonably expected to have had some suspicion of that point. (Cries of ‘Gandhi’, laughter and uproar.)”


 * “Anything he said regarding the Indians did not refer to that gentleman. (‘no gentleman’.) They laid down the rule, and no more Indians should come in. “They had a right to shut the door, and they intended to shut the door. They would deal fairly also with these people now in quarantine—they would even be fair in dealing with respect to that solitary individual, but he hoped there would be a marked distinction between the dealing. (Laughter.) They were prepared to leave the matter in the hands of the Government so far as constitutional and international relations were concerned, but there was a private relation he did not intend to lay down-personal duty to themselves and the rest of the Colony. They did not intend to lay down the agitation until they achieved something. With that object in view, he wished the burgesses of Durban to be ready at any time, as they had been in the past, to go down to the Point when called upon to make a demonstration, and they would show the people who came by these boats what the Colonists of Natal meant, and they would also have a further object, which would be gained from instructions of the leaders when they were there. (Cheers and laughter.) Everyone could associate himself with a certain leader, and through him gain information as to a notice they would get, and that notice meant that they got to the Point, they would get, and that notice meant that they had to throw down their tools and go straight to the Point. (Cheers.) When they got to the Point, they would be under orders—each would know if he took the trouble to find out. Then they would do exactly what their leader told them, if he told them to do anything. (Laughter.) In the course of a day or two, some fresh development would take place, and it would again be necessary to refer to them in another public meeting, because they did not wish to have their individual views or styles, but absolutely be the representatives of the people. (Cheers.)”


 * “The Chairman hoped they would all stick to their ‘guns’. Let them not be unanimous then, and when deeds were wanted find only one third of their number. The Demonstration would be a peaceable demonstration as regards the Indians on board— as regards one man it would be left to the leaders and them to deal with him down there. (Loud cheers and laughter.) They now wanted organization to carry out the object in view. Some men