Page:Labour in Madras.djvu/163

137 The labourers form part of the masses and this new spirit has been working in their midst. Some of us who work with them have encouraged that new spirit, and it is necessary that the children of the Motherland should manifest that spirit of manliness of courage, of independence, and show to those who employ them, be they Eurɔpeans or be they Indians, that they are human be ings. In this fight between Capital and Labour there must be taken into account the factor that labourers are human beings. This spirit is going to grow more and more. No Government, however autocratic or bureaucratic, no social polity, however despotic or tyrannical, is going to put down that spirit in India any more. The labourer has begun to stand up ; he knows the strength of his feet and he will no more go down on the ground and merely entreat. He has found his feet and he has found his voice to a certain extent and he is going to speak out and express himself in a courageous manner. With these two factors staring us in the face, it is clear that we are going to have difficulties everywhere in India. When I perceived this I went to the labourers and identified myself with the Labour Movement and formed a Union at Perambur. If you do not organize them, the expression of the spirit of the mob would be more danger to the country and such an expression none of us wants to see in India. Those who deride these organizations, as mischievous or political in character, talk in a manner which only betrays their ignorance. The RANGER TO THE COUNTRY to the industries, to the trades would lie in a dis. organized mob full of the new spirit; such a manifesto ation would surely be harmful and not harmonious to