Page:The Pilgrims' March.djvu/106

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84
THE PILGRIMS MARCH

of the Indian grievances, is not able to find a solution that can satisfy the intelligentia.

“The non-co-operation movement is only a symptom and expression of general dissatisfaction, owing to the utter disregard of public opinion and of outstanding grievances. In my opinion, the only course open to the Government is to come to a settlement of the three questions, the Khilafat, the Punjab and Swaraj,—on reasonable lines. No Government has ever succeeded in fighting against the people, and repression will only make matters worse. There will be no need on the part of the Government to make special efforts to maintain law and order, if Lord Reading will only meet the reasonable demand of the people, which has been placed before him by more than one responsible leader. Every country has got an extreme section of opinion, but it will be impossible for that section to make any headway if the bulk of the people are satisfied. And my reading of the Indian situation is that, leave alone the bulk of the people, even the intellectual and reasonable section is far from satisfied with the present policy of the Government. It is often said that sober people should rally round the authority. How is it possible for them to