Evening star., 1924-08-31

upon it to suggest that there may
have been purpose in Secretary
Hughes failure to pay his respects
to the mistress who gave law to the
world" Then Ell Mundo asked: ''Or
is the actual atmosphere of Rome
such in foreign eyes that the glorious
vestiges of the Forum are rendered
invisible?"
Call Coolidge Autocrat.
Fascist Italy did not like such i'm
putations AS they served the oppo-
Sition'S purpose of seeming to dis
credit Fascism. Mussolinrs friends
bitterly deplored Mr.. Hughes exclu-
sion of Rome from his itinerary. They
sterply reject the theory that a die
tatorship prevails in Italy or that the
reign of constitutional law has been
abolished. They insist that nothing
has been done except to establish a
strong government in place Of a
backboneless Italy into whose vitals
the cancer of Bolshevism was eating
with deadly rapidity. Compared to
the strong" government established
on the Potomac, the Fascists think
the government that rules on the
Tiber is a tame affair. BY that they
mean that the President of the United
States and the executive branch of
the Government are not hampered in
their authority by such legislative re-
strictions as prevail in Italy. 1t is a
rather startling thing for an Ameri-
can to be told in Rome that Republi-
can Calvin Coolidge is more Of an
"autocrat" than Fascist Benito Mus
solini. The writer is a survivor Of
that experience.
Is Mussolini charlatan or statesman,
knave or genius. false alarm or the
savior Of Italy? Like the outside
world. Italy itself is asking this ques-
ton and waiting anxiously for events
to answer it. Opinion, like the oppo-
sition to Mussolini. is divided and
confused. He has his devoted, pas
sionate and unquestioning admirers
and adherents. They share his own
optimism that the situation, while
not yet normal" from their standpoint
or his, is good and becoming better.
Fascism regards itself still lat war;
with some of the 'miseries" it has
sworn to eradicate and is tackling
them with unterrified confidence. 1t
has marched far in the direction of
constitutionalism since the Black
Shirts took Rome in October, 1922.
Cabinet ReorEanized.
There were parliamentary elec-
tions last Spring, which legalized
Mussolini's government, and the Mus
solini cabinet has been reorganized
during the Summer so as to contain
a fair proportion of non-Fascist MIN
listers. The times are good, despite
high taxes and dear cost of living.
Violence. rampant and omnipresent
during the early months of Fascist
domination, has subsided, II not en-
tirely disappeared. The world of cap
ital and business has acquired re-
spect If; not fondness, for Mussolinis
conduct of affAirs. Life in Italy. ex-
ternally at least, is proceeding along
natural lines. with little more visible
discomfort than is apparent In the
United States this Summer, for ex-
ample, where a large portion of US
Is bent upon the more or less COM
mendable task of turning the ras-
calls out
Arayed against Mussolini, never
theleSs, is a host of implacable foes
who subscribe in no wise to the
theory that all is for the best in their
Fascist-ruled universe. They will tell
you that the "dictators" sun has set,
that he will not survive a third year
of usurpation. Some of them believe
his elimination may have to be ac-
complished by methods that will
cause the streets and squares Of Rome
and Milan to run red before Fascismo
and its chief exponent are destroyed.
Muasolfni Fears Future.
Mussolini himself, strongly in
trenched as undoubtedly he is at this
writing-mid-Augus not uncon-
scious Of the perilous possibilities he
faces. At the annual meeting Of the
Fascist National Council in Rome dur
ing the first week Of August the
prime minister likened Fascismo to
"a surrounded army" Some Of his
supporters think the "Duce" Qeader)
Is Unnecessarily anxious. They en-
visage the SOC, ,000-odd bayonets car
ried over black shirted shoulders by
Mussolini's faithful National Militia"
and bid him Danish the thought Of
overthrow from his mind.
The Fascist army, hitherto owning
allegiance merely to Mussolini, though
drawing military pay from the ma
tional treasury, is about to take the
oath of loyalty to the King at the
prime minister's instigation. But as
long as Mussolini remains enthroned
at Palazzo Chfgi the real allegiance
of the Black Shirts will belong to
him, He may turn out to be. the