Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-26
RULE OF LAW IN EUROPE
ENDANGERED BY UNREST
GuglicImo Fcrrcro, Italian His
torian, Says Reds Must BE Sup
pressed by Force.
on HORNS OF A DILEMMA
feels That Disturbed Condition OF
Italy Reflects the secthing,
Though SmOthcrcd, Discomfort In
Other Nations Of Europe.
uY GUGLIELMO FERitElto,
Famous Italian Historian.


to leglslatc. July and August are
the first months during which the new
chamber has not been on strike and
perfectly Idle. This does not mean
that Italy is already saved from all
the dangers that threaten her. but
what has been gained !s not little.
In the article l published in this
paper about two months ago. when
Eitti's ministry vas on the point OF
dissolution, which dealt precisely with
''rarliamcnt," / said that whether the
chamber was q good or Il bad one. IL
WAS absolutely necessary to overcome
The paralysis from which II was SUI
fcring If i, was seriously desired TO
save III. country. That counsel was
80 simple that II ls impossible 10
understand how i; happened that so
many papers, ana even certain dcpu-
Ties. could consider II Ingenious or
Chimer!cal. 1t is the function OF the
laws 10 oppos" certain stability and
force that they possess 10 the torrent
81 interests and passions that Invest
mem. Hut they can only attain such
force and liability at what in each
.pnch, is tho iuunt OF legality: the
VIII OF the sovereign. In the old abso-
pie and the parl!aments, which are
the ofic!a! Inou,hpicces. today.
Nothing Left but Force.
ltut also TINS source Ia deillcd. Just
doub; L.! But outside this there is
nothing let now but force, whence
comes the dilemma; either Parliament
OF military dictatorship. red or
white. The whole OF Europe is
gripp"d between the horns of this
dilemma.
For some time the war enabled the
decree to bo substituted for the law.
ANA IA" Will or the government or
rather of the single individuals.
through whom, time by time. the gov
etnment. imposed ideas, viii. a..ion.
commands. threats; ministers, high
i'ncileh1ries. generals. TO be subst!
tutei :or the Viii OF Parliament.
These persons were often invisible
and HID In unknown Offices but their
VIII Mas the law during those years
and tmpoaed Itself OF It's own force
being sustained as 1t was by the APP
noratus OF the military system which.
spirit OF dictatorship" which the war
had generated and dinused through
out the nation.
The nation felt bound to obey this
Invisible VIII. even when II seemed
TO u that * erred. But this spirit or
Glctntorsh!p' has disappeared with
the aEmiEtice: force. which VAS the
organ OF Il. has been partly destroyed
ANA parity Weakened: the DEGREES
have hoarscly cried their last COM
Wands 10 people that was no longer
Listening 10 them. II is from these
mistake: 10 believe that he could deal
With enormous affairs like the re-
usEan!zntton of the army and the
dtath duties by dictatorial DEGREES.
/ ra"n the organs and the very spirit
Jof Dictatorship were no Longer in e1-
istrnce.
slight Gnin Made.
We Eili!, then. have Parliament
The ancient fount OF Legality has NOT
dried up; the Hon. Gio.iiu has CON
vjneed this doubtful OF this by facts
THIS So the gain that Che last
- y. H..
Z, must not bo thought. however.
that the disease from which the state
IS sunerinE.-that crisis Of authority
rope--is cured. 1t would be dan
.erous TO deiude onesclf-the fcton.
II We want TO use nobler word.
;he mystic mystery of the VIII OF
81 Parliament and the whole OF the
present political order rests. Is great
~ d!scrcd!tcd today ana might be-
come a mortal danger tomorrow.
AFTER many trials and hesitations
europe has reached the point where
the logic of principle was leading
hcr and has recognized the organ
OF the national will. which delegates
It's powers TO Parliament. in the most
universal suffrage. that Is. In the SUI
fyaee of tho total number OF men
and women who have reached the
age OF reason. all together, and what
ever may be their education or social
condition.
First Appearance.
but what institution or principle.
what political or religious doctrine,
e. what tradition may presume today.
not 20 dominate or direct, but even
TO init or divine the common will of
these endless multitudes. which are
every little while convoked to rejuve-
nate by the act of VIII. the principle
OF authority which they have TO obey {?
'This will, which appears now for the
hrst tiuie In history, is an enormous
horce, obscure 10 every one and even
to tseH-.inden Mite. ftful. osciliating.
II ought TO support the world, and
4 il is at the mercy OF the most fleeing
/ universe. and is always in danger OF
falling slave to handful OF rash
kjpeTsoDs, who know how TO exploit It's
flight and irresponsible caprices In
/ many, many ways 1t may be inter-
pre,ed! In how many ways may IT
he surprised, deceived. abused, vio-
lated.
Spirit Of Violence Comes.
In the shade of their old narIiamen-
tary regimes. the peoples OF western
4 Europe are still living under the em-
f.nire OF law which Is fairly equal
S8nd liberal.
I But the spirit Of violence and ar
rogancc Is blowing like n wind from
every part. twisting and threatening
the age-old trees OF tho ancient laws;
the intellectual and moral equilibri,
um has broken down in ali the social
: orders; the sense of good and evil, OF
the true and the false, of beauty and
Of ugliness Is confused in n kind Of
e. universal delirium. Among the dan
Eers that are threatening Europe.
must he numbered the proba HE
'ebullitions" of universal suffrage:
he explosions of discomfort and
age; the caprices and chimcrical
'ancics to which the multitude will
lbandon itself every now and again.
n the immense Perturbation of tho
World. until we havs managed to
BRING little order out Of chaos once
more; the competition between noli-
ical parties and groups for the ex-
)lOitation Of these uphcayals Of tho
collective spirit.
The law which governs us TODAY.
airy wise and equitable for ali in
pltc of Its defects, may therefore, he
n serious. danger in the disturbed
ines in which We are living, Just be-
ausc 1t Is old. 1t would appenr
therefore,. that we ought to do our
Utmost to render our political in
,itutions as sound as possible. re-.
ormng any part. Of them that has
,ccome Yitiated and renewing what IS
Id.
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Fire OF unknown origin destrovei