Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-21
Fascism's Past and Future.


In one of those uncommonly useful
symposia of international affairs which
periodically issue from its busy labora-
tory, the Foreign Policy Association re-
views nine years of Fascist rule in Italy.
How long the Black Shirt dictatorship
is going to last Is, along with kindred
curiosity respecting the Bolshevist au-
tocracy in Russia, an object of inces-
SAINT speculation throughout the world.
Vera M. Dean, author of the report on
Italy, declares 1t to be the opinion Of
competent observers that there is little
prospect at the present time of vio-
lent overthrow of the Fascist govern
ment"
Crises occur with lightning like rapid
ity, as Alfonso XIII can testify. But
evidently Mussolini may contemplate
the tenth anniversary of the march on
Rome, which he plans to celebrate with
becoming pomp in 1882, with equanim-
ity. Opposition to the Fascist reign is
f1attsned into inSignificance. 1t finds
the most consistent and determined
opposition in a group of some forty
liberal Senators, of whom Luigi AL
bertini and Benedetto Croce are the
outstanding figures. Thus far sena-
torial opposition to Fascist rule has
had little practical effect. The govern
ment is assured of a majority and
should such ever appear to be lacking
Mussolini presumably could manufac-
ture the necessary votes by the simple
expedient of appointing Fascist sympa-
thizers to the Senate. What mar
velous mechanism that would be for a
perturbed President of the United States
when he has a hostile Senate on his
hands!
The Foreign Policy Association report
sets forth that dissatisfaction with the
Mussolini regime is found chiefly. among
industrialists and professional men. Big
business resents compulsory main
tenance of wages in the face of eco
nomic depression. The intelligentsia
objects to Fascisms stern restrictions
on the liberty of association, speech and
press. The professional classes go the
length Of claiming that Italy under the
Black Shirts has been plunged into in
tellectual stagnation. Yet no semblance
of concerted action against this "sea
of trouble" is visible. Even the rancor
Of the church. which might have
proved a serious obstacle, was largely
overcome by the conclusion of the
Lateran accord in 1929.
Political indifference, coupled with
widespread non-Fascist admiration of
Mussolini, Is ascribed as the underlying
cause of Italy's failure to rise in pro-
test against recognized evils There
may be another and more practical
explanation of the peoples apathy.
Does it possibly not spring from a
realization of helplessness against the
machine guns and bayonets which II
Duce commands? Is it not, in part at
least, due TO the consciousness that, in
addition to the Kings army" Mus
solini marshals a voluntary militia re-
cruited from Fascist ranks, said to be
larger numerically than the national
army, and which has officially had con-
fided to it the maintenance of public
order? With the creation of a spe-
cial tribunal for crimes against the
safety Of the state''-that is, the Fascist
cligarchy-are not Italians likely to
think twice and thrice before risking
their liberty or their lives in desperate
throw to revive constitutional govern
ment?
So much said, it requires also TO be
affirmed that Fascism, beyond all
shadows of doubt, has brought certain
blessings to Italy Were an assass'n's
blade or bullet TO fell him today, Benito
MusSolini's place in history is secure.
Had the story of his nine years on the
Fascist throne to be written, probably
the chronicle would stress as his pre-
eminent achievement the revitaliza-
ton of Italian nationallsm If the
peninsula, before the World Wara mere
appendage of the Triple Alliance, finds
itself in 1881 a European power OF
acknowledged magnitude, the answer is
Fascism, and not even that. The an
swer is Mussolini.
In that hattering satisfaction, de-
spite their political shackles, may lie
the Italians submissiyeness to the ex-
listing order.