Evening star., 1928-11-25
TALY'S SPIRIT REBORN
- UNDER FASCIST RULE
Present Regime Will Continue Long
Time, Observer Declares-State's
Power Supreme.

which is as innocuous as it Is futile.
The individual is entirely subordinated
to the state, and only Fascist are ac-
corded the privilege OF direct participa
ton In the affairs of government.
Authority, Not Liberty.
said that this process OF FasciStiza-
ton has not been entirely against the
will of the people. In the opinion
of large number of Italians, the Fascist
experiment is in keeping with the
! country'S needs. Again and again /
i had the point brought home to me that
/ successful as democracy may be in Eng
land and America, 1t has been a fiat
failure in italy, where the paramount
problem is economic independence. The
Italians today, and this includes both
friends and foes of the regime, blame
all their troubles on the liberal and
democratic parties that ruled the coun-
try until the march on Rome. One
hears criticism of the old regime every
where. Too much freedom, they say,
resulted in chaos and civil war. The
time has come for discipline and or
ganization. The Fascist state sets up
the principle of authority as against
reaction against the anarchy that
followed the war, when q multitude of
parties and blocs threatened to plunge
the country headlong into social and
economic ruin.
Reaction Being Carried Too Far.
The trouble with Fascism, however.
IS that 1t is carrying this reaction too
far to suit public opinion at this stage
OF the revolution. MANY Italians are
beginning to feel the weight of Fascist
pressure. They resent the strong-arm
methods of the ruling minority, par
ticularly when the reasons that brought
Fasclsm into power seem to have
vanished.
But whatever the dissension that is
brewing beneath the surface. 1t is the
consensus of opinion that there is no
force in Italy which is suficiently
strong to break the grip Of Fascism.
The rule Of Mussolini is fast crystal.
lizing. The army. the police, the courts. |
the press and, in a measure. even the |
churches are well within the control |
OF the Black Shirts. 1t is estimated
that the Duce's total following in
Italy today is 100000 men. women |
and children. belonging either to the |
Fascist party proper or to It's af- |
hliated organizations. such as the |
Bal1lla, Avanguardia and militia. The |
militia Is highly trained military body |
OF 100000 men, ready to cope with any |
emergency. Its members are recruited !
Irom the Avanguardia, which is also a !
military organization.
Only Chance of Crisis.
The only possibility of a crisis in the |
italian situation today lies either in |
IN open split among the Fascist them |!
selves, or In break with the mon |
archy. In either case the chances are /
remote.
Contrary to rumors. the italian mon |
archy is working hand in hand with |
FasciSm. The recent electoral law, !
which the Liberals and Democrats de- |
scribed as an invasion of the royal |
prerogative, was adopted by the Cham i
Der and Senate with the approval of |
the King. The same Is true of the !
present law Incorporating the Fascist |!
Grand Council as an organ of the state, |
with power to pass upon the succession !
to the. throne. Very little is done by |
MuSsolint without the Kings consent. |
Both realize that the end of one is |
practically certain to mean the end |
Of the other. Anti-Fascist sentiment, |
both at home and abroad, Is anti
monarchical Few are the enemies of !
the regime who are willing to forgive I
the King for having tolerated the |
Fascist invasion.
AS to a split in the ranks of the |
Fascist, there Is small likelihood of 1t |
at present. The original spirit of |
the party still prevails. The youth of |
Italy is almost wholly Fascist. What |
ever differences may prevail among |
the various factions, as among the |
Nationalist and Syndicalists, the lead |
erShip of MuSsolini is a powerful CO. |
hesive force. His popularity, which |
shows no signs Of waning. is q strong !
weapon with which to whip rebelliouS |
members In line. The Fascist obey |
Mussolini with an enthusiasm which |
borders on fanaticiSm.
Will Last for Years.
1t Is difficult to predict the future |
of this experiment, which. with the
exception Of the Communist expert
ment in Russia, is probably the most
interesting in the entire world Ital-
ians themselves differ widely as TO its
value, though it is my impression that
the majority consider it of great bene-
tit to the country. That it will con-
tinue for many years to come there
can be no doubt. At this time of
writing it gives every evidence of a
vitality that no amount of opposition
can diSsipate. Its test, as / see 1t, is
It's ability to adapt itself to the chang
ing public sentiment, which, though
not hostile, Is clearly critical MusSo-
lini himself is perfectly aware of this.
Already he is giving evidence of
willingness to rely more and more on
the organized workers and peasants of
the country and less and less on the
elite Of the movement. The coming
parliamentary elections, artificial as
they may be. ought to prove a first
step in the direction of an inevitable
participation of the people In the af-
| fairs Of government.
The Fascist must choose between
the continuance of the present dicta-
torship against the wishes Of an in
creasing opposition, or the gradual es-
tablishment Of more liberal order
which will enable them to pursue their
program Of a greater italy with the
cooperation of the masses.
That they will choose the latter
course have no doubt.
Copyright. 1928.l