Manawatu Daily Times [ESTABLISHED 21st MAY. 1875,] TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1922. FASCDIO.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2500, 14 November 1922, Page 4

Manawatu Daily Times [ESTABLISHED 21st MAY. 1875,] TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1922. FASCDIO.

While the history of the foremost peoples of the world is written in serial form, that of Italy, the land of rapid and overwhelming political changes, may well be read as a succession of short stories, complete and detached. Incidents, occurring with every generation almost, one and all with a military background, and of which the great majority of the people of the soil have had little knowledge, and less interest, make up the tale of modern Italy. The sudden rise of the Fascist!, which consists in the main of ycfeng men, is therefore typical. They gained their greatest strength during the first days of peace following the great European struggle, when the war fervour of the Italians seemed to grow to unprecedented proportions. but for lack of an outside enemy, it naturally resolved itself into a period of civil strife and unrest. The Socialists seized the factories and the weak-kneed Government pronounced a half-hearted blessing over the new departure, for the Socialists were then, and probably still are, the strongest section of the community. The scheme had a brief and very unhappy trial and soon the factories were handed back to the owners. It was then the Fascist!, seeing the danger of such an irresolute policy on the part of the Government, resolved on military action, and their exploits are recent history. The daring of these patriots and their swiftlyachieved triumphs fired the imagination of the people, just as did D’Annunzio’s Fiume exploit; and the workers themselves joined the movement. The Fascists welcomed them and in almost every industrial centre, and notably in Milan, new trades unions were formed to displace those dominated by the Socialists. The movement grew like a snowball, and continues to grow. Fascimo was represented by only 34 members at the .last elections, and such a handful was powerless, in Rome. Yet to-day their leader is Premier of Italy, and Fascists form his Cabinet. It remains to be seen whether Signor Mussolini Is a dreamer or an organiser. He is a very young man and very inexperienced for so responsible a position, but he is a true patriot and worthy of his great predecessors Garibaldi, Mazzini and Cavour. He himself disclaims any intention of creating a Republic, and the movement can hardly be described as revolutionary. They have now their opportunity to show that their militancy has been unselfish and was exerted with the sole desire to save the country from the forces of disintegration that threatened it. Can so young a movement endure the test?