Evening star., 1934-06-03

not only nominally. but effectively.
The issue as between the two princi-
Piles. dictatorship and constitution
alike, is drawn with almost geograph-
ical precision. and the question
which principle is to survive?-is the
overshadowing problem of the Euro
pean future.
1t is possible, of course, that both
may survive-possible but not prob
able. 1t is not probable because the
conflict of such antagonistic ideas Gre
ates a condition of spiritual warfare,
and because the seeds of both ideas
are present alike in the country under
parliamentary government-and to
the country under dictatorship. Judged
by its triumphs. the odds are on the
complete victory of dictatorship. In
the short view. it has won and will
win. But, in the long view. the prob
abilities are otherwise. Dictatorship
is a gesture of despair-a desperate
refuge from intolerable conditions. 1t
is an incident, perhaps even neces-
sary incident in a time of convulSion:
but as a system of government it Is
at war with the deepest instincts OF
freedom and offers no permanent solu-
ton of the riddle of human govern
ment.
The decision of the struggle between
dictatorship and democracy for the
control of Europe mainly rests with
two countries-France and Britain.
If they are submerged by the flood Of
dictatorship parliamentary govern
ment will have disappeared from Eu-
rope. 1t will be reincarnated. OF
course. but it may take generations
for the reincarnation to be accom-
plished and, in the interval, European
civilization will be desolated by war
ring nationalisms. But. if France and
Britain can keep the banner OF de-
mocracy-of government of the peo-
pie, by the people, for the people-ny-
ing. the ultimate victory will be theirs
and dictatorship will subside as quick
ly as it has risen.
And the prospects of France and
Britain standing firm are visibly i'm
proving. The situation in France was
touch-and-go after the events of the
Spring and the exposure of the COR
ruption Of the public life OF the coun-
try. But the position has been re-
deemed by the Doumergue govern
ment, and it is not improbable that
parliamentary rule is more secure to-
day than it was before the storm
arose. There has been cleansing OF
the public channels. and it is not easy
to see on the horizon any personality
or force that seriously threatens the
republic.
The case of Britain is even less dis
quieting. 1t is true that the rival
claimants to dictatorship, Sir Oswald
Mosley and Sir Stafford Cripps, are
ceaselessly marching and counter
marching in the country, and it would
be idle to deny that they make a
brave show. There is a certain drift
of die-hard Tories to Sir OSwald's s
Fascist camp, and the Labor party.
while repudiating Sir Stafford's revo-
lutionary program, has not yet had
the courage to dismiss his group from
the party organization. He has just
challenged it with a declaration of
policy which would link up labor with
methods of the Soviet Union, sweep
the whole economic system on to the
dust heap and establish the "dicta-
torship of the proletariat' on the
Russian model
But public opinion is not perturbed
by the one menace or the other. The
main current of the Conservative
party will not desert Mr.. Baldwin or
the parliamentary system for Sir Os-
wald and his theatrical troupe of
Black Shirts, and, if the Labor party
] as not the wisdom to cut Sir Stat
ford and his Communist revolution
aries adrift, the chances of its return
to power are negligible. There may
be no enthusiasm for the government,
but the solid mass of British is loyal
to the parliamentary idea and will
have no part in the policy of catas-
trophe which the disciples of Stain
and Mussolini, in their several ways,
offer to the nation.
(Copyright, 1934)