ABSTRACT
Meanwhile(thetimeforholding)theNationalCongressarrived. AsitwastobeheldatPoonathatyear,weweredesirousof seeingpersonallywhatsortofarevolutionarymovementitwas. Beforethis,afiercedisputewasgoingoninthecitybetweenthe orthodoxandthereformpartieswithregardtotheSocialConference.WedonotapproveoftheNationalCongress,muchless oftheSocialConference.Butthoughthereisnopossibilityof anygoodresultingfromtheNationalCongress,itdoesnotentail anylosseither,exceptinsofarastheexpenditureofmoneyis concerned.Thelakhsofrupeesthatarespentuponitarelost (tothecountry),butithasthisrede~mingfeaturethatithas nothingtodowithreligiousmatters.We,therefore,donotcare iftheCongresswereheldeventwenty-fivetimesayear.Butwe cannotviewwithpatiencethechandalin(i.e.,SocialConference)thathasbeenthrustintoitsbosombythesereformers.This istheprincipalreasonwhywelookuponthemasourinveterate enemies.Weareawarethataswearenotindependent,now, everybodyadoptswhatevercoursehelikes.Wemust,however,
eMakingofaTerrorist399 conductourselvesasdirectedintheShastras.Butasthereformersareendeavoringtocircumscribeourfreedomofactionby laws,whyshouldwenotavengeourselvesuponthem?Thereis noreasonwhyweshouldnot.Atthistimeaviolentdiscussion wasgoingonbetweenthetwoparties.BalGangadharTilaktook uptheleadershipofonepartyandMahadevGovindRanade thatoftheother,andawarofwordscommenced.Atthistime ShridharVithalDatesidedwiththeorthodoxparty.Thisman isanenthusiasticadmirerof(theHindu)religion.Heispossessedofmoreself-respectthanothersandisthereforeever willingtoundergoanyexpenseinordertoprovethecorrectness ofhisownopinions.Thecooperationofamanofsuchdeterminationresultedinagreataccessionofstrengthtotheorthodox party.Butsuchstrengthisofnoavailbecauseeffortsnotbacked byphysicalforcearedoomedtofailure.Thedemandsofthe NationalCongresshaveprovedfutileforthisreason.EnglishmenknowthattheNationalCongressmeanseating,drinking, recreationandaprofusionoftalltalkandnothingmore.Had thepeoplebeenasspiritedastheAmericans,they(i.e.,Englishmen)wouldhavebeencompelledtotakeourdemandsinto consideration.TheAmericanshavingprofitedbytheirNational Congresswefollowedtheirexample,butnoonegivesthought towhatthosespiritedpeopledidwhentheirdemandswere refused.TomakeeverymeetingoftheCongressmoreimposing thanthepreviousone,isthe(sole)objecttheseblockheadshave inview.Fromtheirpointofview,thegreatertheexpenditure onpleasure,oneatinganddrinking,onilluminations,ontalking andwriting,themoreisthegoodofthecountrysecured.Let that,however,pass.AsIwillhavetotouchuponthistopiclater on,Ishallnotdwelluponitfurtherinthisplace.Inshort,we didnotatalllikethewordywarfarethatwentonbetweenthe twoparties.
