Evening star., 1938-04-03
BY RAYMOND LESLIE BUELL..

cans to understand But the
task may become somewhat simplified if
We remember that we are witnessing not
only the traditional battle for supremacy
OF powers. such as France and Germany
but social revolutions of fiercely conflicting
types
On the one hand, we have a group of
nations, led by America, Britain and
France, who continue to believe in democ-
racy, and, incidentally in the system of
private enterprise. On the other we have
a group of states, led by Germany, Italy
and Russia, who have abandoned both
democracy and capitalism as they are
known in the Western World.
To many Americans, the chief issue in
the world is between democracy, which be-
lieves in free speech, tolerance of minori-
ties and the right of people to control their
government through elected represent
atlves, and dictatorship, which denies all
these principles. But to many conserva-
tives. the chief issue is between Fascism
and Communism.
Dlnerence in DictatOrShipS.
Both in Germany and Italy the rise of
Fascism Is alleged to be due to the middle
class fear of Communism. And MANY
conservatives in Britain and France prefer
Hitler and Mussolini to a Soviet Germany
and Soviet Italy. 1t does not follow that
these are the only choices confronting
these two countries, but certain conserva-
tlves believe it to be SO. What, then, is
the difference between these dictatorships?
Why is Communism so universally de-
nounced?
Communism in Russia rests upon the
materialistic philosophy originating with
Karl Marx. 1t contends that men are
dominated by economic motives and it
believes that capitalism and religion are
the enemies of the worker. According to
orthodox Communist doctrine, the worker
should revolt and overthrow his capitalist
rulers and establish the dictatorship of the
proletariat, under which the state would
take over and operate all the means of pro-
duction Eventually, such a process, the
Communist believes, will lead not only to
q world revolution, but to a classics So
ciety.
These ideas have been applied to their
logical conclusion in only one country
Soviet Russia. AS result of the 1917
revolution and Subsequent events, the pri-
vate capitalists, the large landowners, the
old aristocracy and most of the bishops and
priests have been "liquidated" This means
that they have had to flee the country, or
have been imprisoned or killed Today,
the state is master of all means of produc-
ton. Nevertheless. in order to stimulate
individual effort, Russia has returned to
q wage system and now allows people to
own a certain amount of private property.
New Constitution Inaugurated.
Last December Soviet Russia inaugurated
Its new constitution, granting to the people
the right to vote for Parliament. Never
theless. the Communist party is the only
authorized party, and as the recent exc
cutions show, Stain will brook no oppo-
sition or even real criticism. Soviet Russia
remains, therefore, rigorous dictatorship.
Although Soviet Russia has one of the
strongest armies in the world, it has
frightened other countries through the use
Of propaganda, organized by what is called
Communist party belongs. In 1885 the
Third International decided that Com
munists in every democracy should CO.
operate with liberal parties to fight Fascism.
But, as Stain wrote to a young worker
few months ago. Soviet Russia still
anticipates the world revolution Conse-
quently, we may understand why the pres
ent rulers of the Fascist relationships fear
Communism. Two of them-Japan and
Germany-also covet Russia's rich terri
tories
What, then. is Fascism? The true home
OF Fascism is Italy. 1t takes its name from
the old Roman fascio-a number of rods
bound around an ax-which was a sign of
strength and unity in the old empire. Fas-
cism rejects the democratic idea that the
people are above their government. It
breaches that the state is supreme and
that individuals must accept its dictates
without question. FasciSm says that the
Use Of violence is thoroughly justified, and
1t does not believe in freedom of the press
or In independent labor unions Neither
does it believe in competitive capitalism.
Instead, it has organized industry and
labor into series of syndicates and cor
porations under government control.
Through such agencies the government
may plan production and fix wages and
prices. The capitalist is not killed off as
in Russia, but, under Fascism. he loses
much of his old freedom and part of his
profits.
Germany's Case Different.
While many people say that Germany is
also Fascist, in fact the present regime in
Germany differs somewhat from that in
Italy. Hitler does not defy the state
as does Mussolini; instead he defies a
mystical German race. It is this insistence
upon race which partly explains the ter
rible persecution of the Jew.
Hitler has paid lip-service to the people
TO a greater extent than Mussolini because
he frequently holds plebiscites at which the
people must virtually vote as Hitler wishes.
Naz Germany is organized under the lead
ership" principle, and agriculture, labor
and industry are organized into estates
responsible only to the supreme leader,
Adolf Hitler
The same general form of planned econ
omy is being developed in Germany as in
Italy. In both countries, the business man
Is becoming government official and the