Page:The Pilgrims' March.djvu/154

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134
THE PILGRIMS MARCH

condition of any organic growth and I see in the Viceregal pronouncement an insistence upon submission to a contrary doctrine, which an erstwhile exponent of the law of liberty has seen fit to lay down, upon finding himself in an atmosphere where there is little regard for law and order on the part of those very men who are supposed to be custodians of law and order.

I have only to point to the unprovoked assault being committed, not in isolated cases, not in one place, but in Bengal, in the Punjab, in Delhi and in the United Provinces. I have no doubt that, as repression goes on in its mad career, the reign of terrorism will overtake the whole of this unhappy land. But whether the campaign is conducted on civilised or uncivilised lines, so far as I can see, there is only one way open to Non-co-operators, indeed I contend, even to the people of India.


OUR PRIMARY RIGHT.

On this question of the right of holding public meetings and forming associations, there can be no yielding. We have burnt our boats and we must march onward till that primary right of human beings is vindicated.