Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-29
ITALY,s FAsCIsTI.

One OF the developments following the great
war IS the organization Of ltalys Fascist, "a socie-
|ty Of ex-soldiers devoted to the promotion of patri-
otisln and the securing Of good government. \
For a time It seemed that Italy was to be en-
quilted in the wave of radicalis,n, which, in various
forms under various names, was sweeping over
Europe. Apparently that danger has been averted,
and responsibility for this fact is said to rest largely
upon the Fascist, who have brought to bear their
organized strength against Bolshcvism, socialism,
and the other isms which have attacked national
existence and have sought to destroy the rights of
private property and the system Of individual in
%,t1attvc which are inseparable from the progress Of
humanity.
Fascist are not committed to. any particular
form of government. Their aim is the cultivation
OF an Italian national spirit and the adoption from
time to time of those expedients in government
which protect inherent rights and promise the great
est good to the greatest lumber. AS the situation
now stands the Fascist are strong supporters Of the
present monarchial regime in Italy. That is be-
cause of the conviction that for the time being that
system is the most beneficial for Italy: Should dit
terent conditions arise the organization would be
at liberty to throw its support to a republican move
ment. There is no secrecy about it's membership or
aims. Its members are all known and it's purposes
are plainly and publicly stated. &
All of this reads we'll. and it is evident that
such a society may do much for a country, as this
one has done much for Italy. The element of danger
lies in the discipline which is said to prevail in the
control OF the organization. Accounts of the ac-
tivities of the society emphasize the rigid discipline
which characterizes the organization, and the readi-
ness with which the members respond to commands
officers.
Discipline is essential to the effectiveness of any
large organization. But discipline may make Of
that which should be a beneficial instrument a men
ace. a we'll disciplined organization whose mem
bers> wall obey orders will achieve useful results SO
long as those who issue the orders desire good re-
suits and choose proper methods. But it is impos-
s'ble to conceive of an organization whose mem
bers subordinate their own judgment to that Of a
central authority without recognizing the possibility
that such an organization will at some time be used
for mischiveous purposes.
The history of the world is full of instances in
which associations formed for the most laudable
purposes have degenerated into instruments of on
preston, or into agencies for the promotion of the
ambition of individuals, because in their enthusiasm
tor the particular purpose sought at the beginning
the members invested their officials with powers
which it is unsafe to place in human hands. The
satisfactory feature in all these cases is that while
damage was often wrought by the possession of
too great authority by unfit persons, after a little
experience of this kind the organizations disinte-
grated, and the members resumed their status as
independent individuals.