Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/625

This page needs to be proofread.

that if we want to give the nation the clearest possible lead, and if we want not to play with this great nation, we must make it clear to this nation that we cannot take any favours, no matter, how great they may be, so long as those favours are accompanied by an injustice, a double wrong done to India not)et redressed. 'Ihe first indispensable thing before we can receive any favours from them is that they should redress this double wrong. There is a Greek proverb which used to say " Beware of the Greeks but especially beware of them when they bring gifts to you." To-day from those ministers who are bent upon perpetuating the wiongto Islam and to the Punjab I say we cannot accept gifts but vie should be doubly careful lest we may not fall into the trap that they may have "devised. I therefore suggest that ve must r.ot coquet with the council and must not have anything whatsoever to do with them. I am lold that if we, who represent the national sentiment, do not seek election, the Moderates who do not represent that sentiment will. I do not agree. I do not know what the Moderates represent and I do not know what the Nationa- lists represent. I know that there are good sheep and black sheep amongst the Moderates. I know that there are good sheep and black sheep amongst the Nationalists. I know that many Moderates hold honestly the view that it is a sin to resort to non-co-operation. I respectfully agree to differ- from them. I do say to them also that they will fall into a trap which they will have devised if they seek election. But that does not affect my situation. If I feel in my heart of hearts that I ought not to go to the councils, I ought at least to abide by this decision and it does not matter if nfnety-nine other countr)men seek election. That is the cnly way in which public work can be done, and public opinion can be built. That is the only way in

�� �