The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-07-10
Liberal Viewpoint
BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

Ds
YESTERDAY, I called attention to the strik-
i ing article by Mr.. Quigley in Current His
tory which rldely challenges the widely accept
ed view that, in spite of notable inroads upon
human freedom, the Fascist regime in Italy has
been a huge success when viewed from the ma
terial standpoint.
7 cited the more significant of Mr.. Quigleys
figures which indicated a startling decline of
Italian economic prosperity, only a part Of
which can be explained satisfactorily by the i'm
pact of the depression upon italian economic
| life Today, I shall consider some Of the items
in the social and cultural balance sheet OF
| Fascism.
Another disillusionment is to be found in the
widespread conviction that Mussolini has done
a great deal for the mass of Italians in the way
of better housing conditions and the like.
Mr. Quigley denies this categorically. He
saws that "in this respect Fascist history is one
of unrelieved indifference and brutality" The
heavy expenditures on public works have been
chiefly for roads, docks, harbors, railroads, PUBIC
buildings and the like.
With respect to workers homes hospitals,
sanatoria schools and the like, the architectural
record of Fascist italy is worse than that Of any
other European country in the same political
category There have been millions for stadia,
statues, memorials and other enterprises devoted
to Fascist exl1ibitonisn, but hardly cent for
structures needed for popular comfort and we'll
being.
TT hardly needs to be pointed out that under
l. Italian Fascism democratic political institu-
tons have disappeared. But democracy is
everywhere under fire, and the so-called italian
corporate state" may be an important novel
, contribution to representative government ana
political control
Much more serious is the complete destruc-
ton of the basic civil liberties of mankind, such
as freedom Of speech press, assembly, education
and the like. 1t would require great material
prosperity to compensate for the loss OF these
hard won rights of man. and this material
prosperity does not seem to have been forth
coming.
Much has been said about the Fascist con-
tribution to art. When MuSSolini came into
power in 1921, the influence of Croce had been
been such as to promise a Variable artistic
renaissance in Italy. All this has been frus-
trated and Mr.. Quigley contends that Italian
art today is "a poor and pale reflection of the
art movements which have held so much promise
ten years earlier" He continues: ITALY IN thlr-
teen years has thrown up no artist, no philoso-
pher, no poet, no novelist of more than purely
| local significance"
TN the field of architecture and sculpture we
l. find the greatest artistic achievements Of
the Fascist regime. Elaborate railway stations,
innumerable postoffices, big auditoriums and the
like have been built, some of which are very
credltable architectural performances. FGellld1h-
able new university buildings have been con-
Structed at Rome, Milan and elsewhere, but the
education which goes on within is lacking IN
freedom and integrity Most Fascist sculpture
while suggesting strength and vigor has been
crude and vergng on the vulgar.
Mr.. Ouigley comes to the following basic
conclusions as to the final assessment OF MUS
solini's achievements in their thirteenth year:
l. ITALY has gained, on balance nothing IN
the cultural, economic and political spheres dur
ing the period October 1922-March 1884 which
can Justify the Fascist experiment. 1t has lost
on the contrary, twelve years
2. "Industrially and socially, Italy has lost
ground It is only necessary to wander up the
valley of the Oglio and visit manufacturing
centers in the vicinity of Milan, Turin and
Venice to discover how paralyzed industrial
equipment has become.
g. "Defation has so undermined the struc-
tl1re of state finance and banking that only fur
Their desperate measures of restriction can keep
it intact It's collapse, under the present regime
is only a matter of time
4. I'm art and culture, Italy has reached the
state of development of 1921, but the population
is poorer less effectively educated and less
capable of supporting any cultural movement
that lacks state aid"
ut is quite apparent that the experiment OF
il duce offers little which should intrigue Amer
leans in their search for a better day.