Just Weeks After Being Released From a British Jail, Gandhi Thanks a Supporter Who Had Called Him the World’s Foremost Statesman

In March 1922 Gandhi was tried on charges of sedition for attacking the British raj as evil and to be opposed, and for encouraging Indian troops in the British service to reconsider their loyalties; specifically for “bringing or attempting to excite disaffection towards His Majesty’s Government established by law in British India, and thereby committing offenses punishable under Section 124 A of the Indian Penal Code.” Gandhi plead guilty, and before sentencing read a prepared statement from the dock that is considered one of the great speeches of the 20th century, articulating the doctrines of resistance to evil and non-violent protest. He said, in small part, “Non-violence is the first article of my faith. It is also the last article of my creed. But I had to make my choice. I had either to submit to a system which I considered had done an irreparable harm to my country, or incur the risk of the mad fury of my people bursting forth when they understood the truth from my lips…In my opinion, non-co-operation with evil is as much a duty as is co-operation with good. But in the past, non-co-operation has been deliberately expressed in violence to the evil-doer. I am endeavoring to show to my countrymen that violent non-co-operation only multiples evil, and that as evil can only be sustained by violence, withdrawal of support of evil requires complete abstention from violence. Non-violence implies voluntary submission to the penalty for non-co-operation with evil. I am here, therefore, to invite and submit cheerfully to the highest penalty that can be inflicted upon me for what in law is deliberate crime, and what appears to me to be the highest duty of a citizen.” Gandhi went to jail.

On February 5, 1924, Frank P. Smith, an Oklahoma attorney, who had read coverage of this, wrote Gandhi a letter of appreciation, calling the modest Gandhi the world’s foremost statesman and praising his doctrine of non-violence. “With all of the world figures of statesmanship in mind, I greet you as the foremost one from a real Christian standpoint. The great principle of all wisdom, progressing materially with all power that works everywhere to its infinite ends, will vindicate my estimate of you. Your policy is the first one which practically concedes the supremacy of the spiritual over the material, the superiority of the power of love over that of physical force. The world will follow the vent of your example to a peace that will be universal and everlasting. God bless you.”

In January 1924 Gandhi was released and set about catching up on his work and responding to his correspondence. Typed letter signed, in English, Andhari, March 18, 1924, to Smith. “I must thank you for your letter of 5th February, and for appreciation. Yours sincerely, M.K. Gandhi.” The original postmarked envelope is still present.