MUSSOLINI ON DEMOCRACY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 151, 29 June 1931, Page 6

MUSSOLINI ON DEMOCRACY.

(By LADY DRUMMOND HAY.)

Mussolini, superman, creator of one of the Great Powers of this post-war world "made safe for Democracy," recently again emphasised his unchanging views regarding the "illusion of Democracy." "Democracy is the form of Government ■which gives, or tries to give, the people the illusion that they are sovereign. The instruments of this illusion vary according to time and race, but its essentials and its purpose remain the same," declared the Dnce the other day to a newspaper published in the . French language in Rome. Six years ago, on the first occasion I ever met him. the Dictator of Italy expressed himself to me on the eame subject. The significance and .influence of his striking utterances have been with me ever since. "Mass cannot govern mass. Quantity canno-t govern quantity." His voice vibrated with intensity through the vast room in the Chigi Palace; where he wae installed at that time. "Liberty! Is there such a thing as Liberty? Civilisation is the inversion of personal liberty, which in the long run resolves itself into a matter of space —more space, more liberty. Those who would benefit from the advantages of civilisation must necessarily ..pay in the coin of personal freedom. When the Liberals call out for 'Liberty' they display their ignorance of the rudiments of the mechanism of government." His quiet, measured tones quivered almost defiantly. "I maintain there can be no such thin" as "Liberty." To-day he challenges the "illusion of Democracy" in a world of increasingly numerous democracies. The Duce's irrefutable viewpoint has been proved throughout history, and is being proved now. Attempts on the part of mass to govern mass have ever resulted in chaos, not government, in revolution, not construction.. The chief weakness and national danger peculiar to democracies is the tendency to destructive disunion, feud and faction. The political eituations in Germany, Austria, France and Poland adequately illustrate Mussolini's meaning. The very fact that Britain has since the close of the war lacked an inspired, nationally-respected leader, threatens to imperil traditional British solidarity.

Progress, political and economic, emancipation and education of tlie masses, organised benefit for the individual, have been moet pronounced in countries where mass follows a leader. Kemal Pasha, of Turkey, for instance, Eiza Khan, of Persia, Ibn Saoud, of the Hedjaz, Mussolini, of Italy, himself. Dictator Chiang Kai-shek ie .trying to do the same for China, and has been very successful within the radius of bis direct influence, which has not yet, however, had the material time to reach 500,000,000 people. Soviet Russia, plunged into the most spectacular experiment of Socialism and Communism the world has ever witnessed, never once considered jeopardising the possibility of success as Eussia sees it, by allowing mass to govern mass. Their vast experiment is handled and directed by Stalin from the Kremlin. The Fire of Pentecost set no precedent for collective inspiration. Capriciously, one is tempted to think, do the jealoue gods relinquish now and then a divine spark of inspiration and leadership. "Varying according to time and race," as the Duce said, the Chosen Instrument fulfils a destiny. To conquer an empire, foiuid a faith, remodel a nation, free a people, champion an empire. To rule, to lead, to guide, to inspire. Yesterday by force of steel and prison bare, to-day by persuasion of the ."illusion of Democracy" and mirage of a "liberty" increasingly elusive in this age of industrialisation and standardisation. —(Anglo-American N.S.— Copyright.)