Evening star., 1943-12-15

~"--~~
constitute at least the second, per-
haps the first, most numerous politi-
cal element in the liberated portion
OF Italy. Still the feeble old priest |
in the Florida monastery 5000 miles |
away remains their spiritual and in
tellectual leader. The old mans for
mer home at Caltanisetta, in Sicily, |
near where his aged sister still lives,
us becoming shrine of democracy.
Followers Join Allies. /
AS winter approaches with its cold |
rains, hardship among the poor has
become much more pronounced and |
it has not been difficult for Fascist
schemers, some of whom allegedly
still occupy high places, to arouse
much discomfort against the Allied
military authorities. There have |
been distressing incidents Yester-
day Don Luigi's followers came into
the open for the first time, lining up
solidly with the Allied military gov
ernment against its surreptitious
foes.
Streets Of Sicilian cities were
lined with yellow proclamations
telling the people frankly to blame
themselves and their ill-chosen
leaders for their troubles and urg-
ing that their best chance for relief
lies in complete cooperation with
the occupation leaders and refusal
to listen to agitators who, in what
ever guise they may be concealed,
remain the old Mussolini crowd of
self-seeking politicians.
The undeniable gravity of our
food situation" reads the proclama-
ton In part, has aroused among
the people state of mind which is
far from the sense of responsibility
which this grave hour demands.
They stir up the spirit of the
people with insinuations favorable
to the ingloriously fallen regime to
which We owe both our own tragedy
and that of humanity as a whole.
The grave ills we suffer are the
result both of the disastrous war
and to 20 years Of corruption which
vilifled every sentiment of honesty,
both public and private The tend
ency to dishonest speculation, hav-
ing become firmly fixed in the man.
agement of public affairs, has con-
tinued to undermine the politics
of this island Ably camouflaged,
Fascists remain in Office Mote:
They are being kicked out and sent
to Jail as fast as AMG can spot
them, but often their camouf1age is
very clever, indeed) They are
turning every situation to their
tpwn. profit by the perpetual meth
Eods under which the public has,
suffered beneath the yoke Of
Fascism.
| Appeal for Loyalty.
we Christian Democrats In the
interests of peace, call the @attention
of the Allied governments to the
gravity of the situation, without
suggesting solutions. We invite our
people to calm and serenity. We
always deprecate violence. Our
road inevitably will be hard, due to
the war Disorder can only SOW
seeds of blood and tears. We cam
not doubt that the Allies, having
liberated Italian soil from Na1-
Fascist oppression, will continue to
serve our best interests. We be-
seech cooperation with them. with |
sense Of high responsibility, to
solve our more urgent problems. |
Eveyy move of violence at this |
moment is against our true tradi-
tionS.
I'VE cannot abandon our faith |
in the future, nor a vivid sense of |
our present duties, indispensable to
regain the liberties we have lost. An |
unwise benevolence on the part of
the Allied authorities would only
precipitate worse conditions In the
end This crisis comes from a sad
past. The sufferings and privations
which arose from despotism are
continuing today. We must endure
them in a spirit of repentance for
our past sins If we would aspire to
the dignity of free people"
Thus, like the voice of jeremiah |
of old, sounds the voice of Don
Luigi from his Florida monastery
Although the words are not actual
ly his, say his follows, they are a
faithful expression of the spirit OF
his preachings and writings for the
past 20 years. The old monk
philosopher, they say, is bound to
pass into history as one of the great
and most colorful leaders of the
war