पृष्ठ:सम्पूर्ण गाँधी वांग्मय Sampurna Gandhi, vol. 7.pdf/३२८

THE PASSIVE RESISTERS. Man 25/10/00 Scene on Von Brandis Square.7 25/10/07 Mr. Gandhi's Explanation. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE STAR." Sir, I regret that I have to trespass upon your courtesy again with reference to the Asiatic Registration Act. Your report of to-day's happenings on Von Brandis Square beara evident traces of in- spiration. I pass by the description of Indian pickets as "pickets of coolies" as merely an ignorant description of inoffensive and honourable men. I still maintain that neither the pickets nor any other Indians have exceeded the limits of moral suasion in preventing regis- tration. The Indian referred to by your reporter was in the witness-box to-day, and certainly said that there was no molestation. He was taken hold of by the arm, and, when he said that he want. ed to go to the registration office, he was allowed to go. That was his own evidence, corroborated by his co-registrant and the accused. I do not know whether this can by any stretch of imagination be described as roughly collared outside the office." The men-there were two Indians who were met by the accused Indian, who, by the way, was not a picket, did not know what the law was. All they knew was that they got a letter from their master to go to some office in Johannesburg to sign. Why should any exception be taken to people at least informing such men of the trap into which they were about to fall? The opinion of the registration officer that Dr. Mathcy's client must have been intimidated because he did not ap pear to register may, perhaps, be counter- balanced by another and more probable opinion that the client has listened to the remonstrances of his friends, and not been intimidated. I am free to admit that there are many Indians who, but for the pickets, would allow themselves to be registered. The real thing they fear is not intimidation but Indian public opinion. These are men who know the law to be bad, but who cannot rise superior to their worldly ambition, and they would un- doubtedly register if there were no pickets. To mention the priest case in connection with the matter betrays either very great ignorance or equally great prejudice on the part of your reporter, because that case was entirely a religious quarrel, and the priest who was assaulted, in giving his evidence, himself expressed exceeding regret that he had ever filed his affidavit. I do not wish to defend the Dervish who committed the assault, but I fancy that all communities have such men and all are proud of them. They do not live for a nationality but for a principle.-I am, etc., M. K. GANDHI. Johannesburg, October 24. " स्टार" को पत्र (देखिए पृष्ठ ३०१-०२ )