Evening star., 1924-08-31
What Europe Is Saying About America

The Fascist view of the Matteotti
affair. of course. runs radically
counter to the expectations of Musso-
linis enemies. His friends are con-
vinced the "Duce" is far too astute
a leader, far too jealous of the power
and opportunity that have come to
him to be the regenerator of Italy.
to Stoop to SO hideous a method of
self-perpetuation as highwaymanship
and manslaughter. Fascismo. they
acknowledge. was born in violence.
and MussoIini himself is fonN of cit
ing Washington and Lincoln as men
who did not shrink from fire or the
sword to achieve their lofty purposes.
Weeds Out Undesirables.
The first states of Fascist domina-
ton were accompanied by many un-
constitutional acts, subversive of nor
NAL law and order. But Fascists tell
you that conditions in Italy were
such that nothing but rough methods
could have served Fascimo's crusad-
ing needs. In the furtherance of his
revolutionary schemes Mussolini ac-
quired, along with more or less law
abiding element, an equally large, if
not larger, lawless following He
was not picking his Black Shirt le-
gfonar1es with any regard to their
moral past or present when he
marched on Rome in the Fall of 1922.
He took whom he could get and
wherever he could find them. In that
indiscriminate process the Fascismo
army invited the adherence of gun
men, thugs, 'rough-necks" by the
thousands. inspired by ruthless be-
lief in the cause that enlisted their
enthusiasm.
Today, if Mussolini partisans are
to be credited, the Prime Minister. is
engaged in wedding out the "unde-
sirables." In power now under au-
thority of authorized parliamentary
elections, Mussolini is no longer the
head of an irresponsible rabble, but
the responsible leader of a govern
ment In response to the opposition's
demand for ''normalizzazione." which
is none other than President Hard
ings famous "normaley," he has
"normalized" his position, and now
holds it, however much his enemies
may dislike or ignore the fact, under
constitutional sanction, with a two
thirds majority in the Chamber of
Deputies.
Considered -Usurper.
That, of course, is where Fascismo
and the rest of Italy differ. Anti
Fascist Italy refuses to consider Mus
solini anything but an upstart usurp-
er and brozen pretender. who will
be toppled from his illegitimate
power the moment Italy produces
man bold enough to defy him and tear
from his face what antagonists claim
Is, nothing but a mask that gives him
the appearance Of strength If there
Is such man in. Italy, candor compeIs
the explanation that no one in Rome
knows his name or address. Mean
time-for how long time only a po-
litical fool would prophesy-Benito
Mnssolini is monarch of. all he sur
fair Italy. An Italian of repute de-
tached from the political recrimina-
tions of the hour says Mussolini will
last 10 or II years if he is not assas-
sinated.
What has he accomplished during
what his detractors denunciate as
Italy's reign Of terror? Leaving aside
his methods, nearly all Italians will
tell you he has accomplished miracles.
He has balanced Italys budget by
ruthless revision of taxes upward
He has abolished strikes, which were
paralyzing industrial life and the
public utilities. He has reorganized
the railway system-trains run more
or. less on time and robberies have
almost decreased to the vanishing
point. He has given Italy a strong
foreign policy-witness the Corfu
coup detat in 1923 and the annexa-
tion Of Fiume without war with Jugo-
sl2via. He has inspired the conf
dence of big business. He has con-
ciliated the Vatican. These are the
constructive achievements of Benito
MuSsolini.
Accused of Violence.
But what of his destructive
achievements? his irreconcilable foes
inquire. They charge him with the
maintaining of a regime of violence
that turns his vaunted ''normaliza-
tion" life into a mockery. Mat
teottism," in one form or another, Is
the system by which the Fascismo
government is alleged to live. In the
provinces, where the Black Shirt
national militia" is more arrogant, it
is said to have coerced both citizenry
and officialdom into a state of abiect
fear and to have conducted the par
liAmsntary elections BY which Mus
Continued ON Third Pzge.)