INDIAN HOME RULE
good or bad is a new-fangled notion. There was no such thing in former days. The people disregarded these laws they did not like, and suffered the penalties for their breach. It is contrary to our manhood, if we obey laws repugnant to our conscience. Such teaching is opposed to religion, and means slavery. If the government were to ask us to go about without any clothing, should we do so? If I were a passive resister, I would say to them that I would have nothing to do with their law. But we have so forgotten ourselves and become so compliant, that we do not mind any degrading law.
A man who has realised his manhood, who fears only God, will fear no-one else. Man-made laws are not necessarily binding on him. Even the government do not expect any such thing from us. They do not say : "You must do such and such a thing," but they say: "If you do not do it, we will punish you." We are sunk so low, that we fancy that it is our duty and our religion to do what the law lays down. If man will only realise that it is unmanly to obey laws that are unjust, no man's tyrann will en-
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