ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE ASSAIDANTS• 55 police protection against his own countrymen and would not permit the Doctor to stitch up his face before complet- ing the form of application for voluntary registration. That same day, though tossing with fever, he issued the following manifesto from his sick bed :-—- Those who have committed the act did not know what they were doing. They thought that I was doing what was wrong. They have had their redress in the only manner they know. I. therefore, request that no steps be taken against them, Seeing that the assault was committed by a Maho- medan or Mahomedans, the Hindus might probably feel hurt. If so, they would put themselves in the wrong before the world and their Maker. Rather let the blood spilt to-day cement the two communities indissolubly—— such is my heartfelt prayer. May God grant itl .... The spirit of passive resistance rightly understood should make the people fear none and nothing but God-—-no cowardly fear, therefore, should deter the vast majority of sober·mi¤ded Indians from doing their duty. The promise of repeal of the Act, against voluntary registra- tion, having been given, it is the sacred duty of every true Indian to help the Government and the Colony to the uttermost.
