Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/107

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an ' open letter ' to the members of the Local Parliament) in Nabal, It was widely circulated in the Colony and noticed by almost every leading newspaper in South Africa. No one contradicted it then. It was even admitted by some newspapers. Under such circumstances, I venbured to quote it in my pamphlet published here. I am not given to exaggerate matters and it is very unpleasant to me to have DO cite testimony in my own favour, but since an attempt has been made to discredit my statements and thereby the cause I am advocating, I feel it to be my duty for the sake of the cause to tell you what the papers in South Africa thought about the 'open letter ' in which the statement was made.

The Star, the leading newspaper in Johannesburg, says :

Mr, Gandhi writes forcibly, moderately and well, Ha has hi intel f Buffered pome slight measure of injustice since he came into the Colony, but that fact does not seem to have coloured his sentiment, and it must be confessed that to the tone of the open letter uo objection can reasonably be taken, Mr, Gandhi discusses the questions he has raised with conspicuous moderation,

The Natal Mercury , the Government organ in Natrfl, says ;

Mr. Gandhi writes with calmness and moderation, He is as impartial as any one could expect him to be and probably a little more so than might have been expected, considering that he did not reeoeive very just treatment at the hands of the Law Society when he first came to the Colony.

Had I made unfounded statements, the newspapers would not have given such a certificate to the ' open letter.'

An Indian, about two years ago, took out a second class ticket on the Natal railway. In a single night jour- ney he was thrice disturbed and was twice made to change compartments to please European passengers.

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