The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-04-07
Sightseeing

For two months the editor of this paper
looked upon the historic and artistic treasures
Of Italy and France.
He looked upon Aussolini as he sat in his
capacity Of five members of the cabinet, which
means dictatorship, as he opened parliament
composed Of those who did nothing said moth
ing and wrote nothing but what he dictated
He Travelled in trains patrolled by soldiers
whose chief duty it was to see that even in the
moving cars no word Of criticism was uttered
against government by force.
He saw the ruins of ancient Rome, the
spots where men have triumphed for brief
hour of history and then passed on, forgotten.
He went into the caves where Nero listened
to the Duncan Sybil and where Dante, in his
mad love, wandered in search of his Beatrice,
believing that he could rescue her from the
journey across the StyX
He saw the work of great dreamers, immor
tai in canvas and in marble.
He rode over highways that had lasted for
tons have risen and then fallen to decay.
He saw countries ruled by soldiers. He
saw men fear to speak He lived in land
where protest must be less than whisper and
where men disappear into the cells of prisons
for daring to be men.
Everywhere there was pride in the monu-
ments, pride in the history, pride in the beauty
Of historic treasure.
1t was all so interesting very interesting 1t
was so easy to understand, easy for the guides
to explain.
Sightseeing in indianapolis, on return, is
also interesting But it is so hard to under
stand
What would guide say were he to wander
into the State House ard after pointing to the
dome, begin to show the sources of pride
What would he say when he pointed to the
office of the Governor? Would he say that
here we have the only man in all history who
has headed great State and whose title to
the office and indeed to his own liberty, rests
upon the fact that he successfully hid the evil
dence Of his crime for period Of two years?
There, indeed, is something to be proud of.
That truly is distinctively the possession of the
State When plying the people of Italy, who
must either whisper or disappear, for their
lack of courage to face firing squad,
to defend their citizenship, what shall be said
of State which consents to rest under the
shame Of beng governed by man who es
capped cell by plea that the statute of limita
tions had run against his crime?
There are distinctions that are at least not
to be envied.
There are other things in the State House,
Of course, which would prove interesting to the
visitor.
Instead Of original letters of dead men,
there are official files which are rapidly becom-
ING quite as ancient and quite as venerable.
There is the record, for instance, Of the case
against the head of the Anti-Saloon League,
charged with attempting to use his political in
huence to terrorize court, which still awaits
decision. Perhaps some local guide can ex-
plain to an nquisitive traveller, even in
quisitiye citizen, reason for delay in de-
cision ma land where speedy justice is guaran-
teed to every citizen and where no man should
rest under such an imputation.
The primaries will be held early in May