Evening star., 1924-08-31

flash in the pan his rivals depict him,
but his flame will not have been ex-
tlnguished without having burned an
indelible imprint upon the life and
times of Italy. Mussolini may dis
appear. but even his enemies ac-
knowledge that his achievements will
survive him. Almost everywhere in
Rome you will be told that no states
man since Italy became a reunited
realm half century ago has accom-
plished more of permanent value than
has Mussolini in these past two tre-
mendous years. Almost everywhere
men bracket his name with those of
Cavour. Garibaldi and Crisp and
other legendary heroes of the Risor-
gimento.
TR6ie Events Hurt Fascismo.
1t is the tragic events of the pres
ent Summer that gave FasciSmo its
graveSt setback and made many Ital-
ians, friend and foe alike, think that
Mussoiini sits on a volcano. Musso-
linfs most unterrified foe in Parlia-
ment. the young Socialist leader.
Mattectti, let it become known that
upon the reassembling of the chamber
on June IL he would make certain
revelations with regard to corruption
within the Mussolini government. In
particular Matteotti was supposed to
possess discriminating documentary
evidence adducing wholesale graft
among the highest officials of the
department Of the interior Musso-
of the interior, along with the other
offices he held, including the premier
ship.
On June 10, two days before the
opening of Parliament, Signor Mat
teotti was seized in broad daylight
near his home in the fashionable
quarter abutting the Tiber, spirited
away'in an automobile. and, presum-
ably. thereupon murdered. If Ameri-
can readers will think Of the Mat
teotti outrage in terms of the recent
oil scandals at Washington, they will
understand the nationwide horror
the crime evoked in Italy. 1t was the
kind of cyclonic sensation that would
have ensued If, let us say, President
Coolidge and Albert B. Fall. in collu-
sion with other members of the pre-
vious or existing administration, hav-
ing wind of Senator "alsh'S determi-
nation to expose Teapot Dome, ar
ranged to have him kidnapped in Six
teenth street and put out of the way
somewhere in the fastnesses of near
by Virginia or Maryland. g.,
People Grow Saspicious.
as Matteotti Immediately turned pop
ular suspicion in the direction of
Mussolini. 1t was considered un-
likely that a capital crime Of the sort
could or would have been dared with
out the knowledge, IL not the author
ity, of the omniponent parsonage
higher up. Mussolini was unquestion-
ably disturbed to his depths by public
indigna tion over the Matteotti case.
10 r y1c h L.
for the first time, that his debonair
air disappeared and has never re-
turned. Yet he' played a bold card.
He .interposed no barrier to the arrest
of no fewer than 18 Fascist, big and
small fry. who were forthwith
charged with having been either au-
thors, abettors or actual executors of
the outrage.
: Among them were shining lights of
Rossi. the premier's press chieftain !
at the ministry of the interior; Fill
pelli, editor Of the Corriere Italiano,
the principal Fascist newspaper of
Rome, and Marinelli, the financial
manager Of Fascimo.- These 18 men
are now undergoing preliminary ju-
dicial examination under the Italian
equivalent of our grand jury system,
and after indictment will be formally
vealed no intention Of Interfering
with the ordinary course Of justice.
The Italian magistry has always stood
in high repute, and Fascimo has, not
tampered with it. The crown ,appar-
emily is to have every opportunity to
prove Rossi and his confederates
guilty of Matteottrs death.
Foes See Overthrow.
Mussolini's antagonists assert that
his fate is irrevocably wrapped up
with tho outcome of the Matteotti
trial, no matter how 1t results. Even
If the Premier Is not personally COM
promised or implicated, his enemies
are confident that the evidence to be
introduced will be so damning and
damaging that "the bloody tyranny
of Fascism"-as Wickham Steed, edi-
tor of the English Review Of Reviews,
has just assailed twill be estab-
lished beyond the shadow of. doubt.
They are certain 1t will drive him
from office amid national ignominy
and perhaps something worse. - =.