Page:The Pilgrims' March.djvu/148

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
128
THE PILGRIMS MARCH

disobedience or for any other purpose given under the definition of non-co-operation, but excluding acts of violence, actual or intended. Let the Government come down with a heavy hand on every act of violence or incitement to it, but we must claim the right for all time of expressing our opinions freely and educating public opinion by every legitimate and non-violent means. It is therefore the Government who have really to undo the grave wrong they have perpetrated and they can have the Conference they wish under a favourable atmosphere. Let me also say that so far as I am concerned I want no Conference to consider the ways and means of dealing with non-co-operation. The only Conference that can at all avail at this stage is a Conference called to deal with the causes of the present discontent namely, the Khilafat and the Punjab wrongs and Swaraj. Any Conference again which can usefully sit at the present stage must be a Conference that is really representative and not a Conference to which only those whom the Government desire are invited.