Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-04
Saturday, November 4, 1922.
ITALY AND AMERICA


"The Italian people look to the roble
American nation with full confidence
that II will understand and estimate
the value of the efforts accomplished
by the Italian nation for the realiza-
ton OF a common victory"
Americas gratifying experience
with many thousands of the Italian
race who have made themselves good
citizens Of this country ought to
qualify Americans for q sympathetic
attitude toward Italy, but sympathy
does not necessarily signify full
approval of acts or methods. Nor
should it incline us to resort to
similar methods by which to relieve
our own troubles. We would not
change administrations by revclu-
lions however successful those might
prove in Italy. We would not forget
that we have inherited a constitu-
tional government with adequate
ways and means provided for chang
ing in event a majority of us decide
that it should be changed, without
resort to violence and bloodsned.
We have had ample opportunity to
witness among our Central and South
American neighbors the i'll effects
OF those violent methods. We have
prided ourselves on being grown be-
You'd such childish moods as break
ing that which should be mended
just because we are impatient and
unwilling to try and mend it. We
have been gratified to see ouY neigh
bors to the South abiding more and
more by constitutional methods as
they have grown in self control.
1t would be unwise to pass over
without heed the conditions under
which this change has come about
in Italy. We see Mussolini, the lead
err. a man who began his public
career as radical socialist, now
turning in his mature years to an
other extreme. All the facts show
that the condition of governmental
affairs in that country has afforded
him abundant aggravation. Bureau
cracy has robbed the people and
fastened thousands of parasites on
them. In our country there are
signs OF a like dccadence approach
ing. He would suppress all state
monopolies, would have the railways.
placed under private control in place
OF government ownership. He finds
that these monopolies are costing the
Government great sums whereas
under former conditions they con-
trbuted a handsome revenue; that
the tendency has been ito transform
the country into a mass of civil
servants, in order to use them as
. powerful electoral machine" We
have not forgotten the attempt made
in this country to weld the railroad
employees into a political tool. to
manipulate labor unrest into support
OF socialistic schemes. Right row
effort is being made to supplant the
court with congressional interference
and bring 1t under the control Of
the political huckster. We saw some
thing stirring among our returned
soldiers when the ]. w. w. set our
laws at defiance. something resem-
bling that which reused thousands
Of Italians and sent them into the
scarcely avoid the conclusion that
given a little more provocation some-
thing resembling the uprising in
Italy might easily come about in the
United States OF America.
This should not be permitted.
Such q revolution isn't the function
Of a highly civilized, well ordered
citixsnry. There are methods much
better, and much better suited to
our needs of the present and needs
Of the future.
Mussolini has gone about the great
task he has set for himself with
commendable judgment. He has
summoned to his aid able men who
ere patriots. like General Diaz, Ad.
miral DiRevel, Rossi and Einaudi
He evidently does not intend that
any socialist shall be able to say that
no holds the government in contempt
a. . legislative agent Of the Fed.
Grafton Of Labor said about oul
Supreme Court. But will he be able
to give the unemployed employment;
70 distribute bread and circuses fol
the proletariat? II not. seeing thu
suceess with which this. revolution
overturned the government wha
reason to suppose another will no
be had when the discomfort spreads
No, that method should not b.
permitted In this country OF ours
but Il will be, unless all signs fail
n We do not attend to our job. Thu
Prssident OF the National League