Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/157

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Barons me cover m 1913 67 and Europeans. Mr. W, Daizell-Turnbull was specially instructed by the Attorney·General to appear for the prose· cution, and Mr. Advocate J. W. Godfrey appeared for Mr. Gandhi. Mr. Gandhi pleaded guilty to the charges. Mr. Turnbull read the section ana left the matter in the hands of the Magistrate. Mr. Godfrey stated that he was under an obligation to the defendant not to plead in mitigation in any way whatsoever. The circumstances which had brought Mr. Gandhi before the Magistrate were well known to all persons, and he was only expressing the desire of the defendant when he stated that the Magistrate had a duty to perform, and that he was expected to perform that duty fearlessly, and should therefore not hesitate to impose the highest sentence upon the prisoner if he felt that the circumstances in the case justified it Mr. Gandhi obtained the permission of the Court, and made the following statement :—— As a member of the profession, and being an old resident of Natal, he thought that, in justice to himself and the public, he should state that the counts against him were of such a nature that he took the responsibility imposed upon him, for he believed that the demonstra- tion for which these people were taken out of the Colony was one for a worthy object, He felt that he should say that he had nothing against the employers, and regret- ted that in this campaign serious losses were being caused to them. He appealed to the employers also, and he felt that the tax was one which was heavily weighing down ‘his countrymen, and should he removed. He also felt that he was in honour bound, in view of the position of things between Mr. Smuts and Professor