Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1926 EUROPE'S MILITARY DICTATORSHIPS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 11 June 1926, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1926 EUROPE'S MILITARY DICTATORSHIPS

THE apology which General Da Costa offers for turning out the constitutional government, of Portugal, may or may not convince the Portuguese nation and the world generally that he acted with the highest patriotic motives. What is quite clear is that constitutionalism falls an easy victim when attacked by the military forces which it created for the protection of tho State In seven European countries constitutional government has fallen before military force. Nations whose populations total upwards of a hundred million people—a considerable portion of Europe's population—have seen their constitutional rights over-ridden and cast aside, as if they had no more claim to govern themselves than if they were ignorant, illiterate, semi'dvilised • tribes of Darkest Africa. As a matter of fact they are among the most highly civilised nations on the 'earth—ltaly, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Greece and Portugal. Therefore the failure of constitutional government in them is not, to be attributed to any lack of intelligence,in the nations concerned, hut to some other cause. What is that cause? General 'Da Costa says that in Portugal "No man dared to govern. It was everyone for himself, thus impoverishing and corrupting Portugal." If that is true, it means that the politicians were corrupt, and that the electors either connived at such corruption, or were powerless to prevent it. Sothat in essence the Portuguese Dictator would attribute the alleged failure of constitutionalism in Portugal to the 'electors or to the elective system itself. What is noticeable in practically nil the European countries where Dictatorships have been set up, is that under constitutionalism (he multiplicity of political parties had made it almost, impossible for any political leader to command a majority. In a number of instances the government was called on by means of loosely formed coalitions. which quickly fell to pieces,; to be followed by equally short-lived coalitions. The cause was to ho found in the individual politiiean's personal ambition and in his lack of real patriotism. Is oonStilunional 'government, then. on its trial in Europe? There can he no doubt that representative political institutions have been productive of great prosperity and happiness in Europe. Are they about' to bo abolished in other countries of that Continent? Were the high political ideals, which flourished throughout Europe in the 19th century, and which called into being the Kingdom of Italy, and gave Spain peace and prosperity—were those ideals foolish or vain? Is the truest and most, stable government that of force? If so, tine great patriots of the past—Gladstone, Beaconsfield, Cavonr. Gambetta, tlie Younger Pitt, aye, and Bismarck himself, men who built up the greatness of their respective nations on firm constitutional bases—must have been wrong, and Horthy and Mussolini and De Rivera and Pangalos and the rest of the Dictators must be the true patriots. The issue will be decided in a very simple manner. A true patriot will not remain a Dictator a moment longer than he must, hut will establish a constitution at the earliest possible moment. If, when his country is ready for a constitution, he refuses il. the penpie will use the time-honoured means of replacing (lie Dictatorship with a popular and elective form of government.

But, the lesson which Europe's cron of military Dictatorships teaches, is that the first, requisite of successful constitutional government, is the development of a high standard of political, intelligence and virtue in (he electorate. And one of the most effective methods of inculcafcing political virtue, and intiplli<gence in a nation is for il to experience the tyranny of a Dictatorship. Hence it may safely be. prophesied that constitutionalism will revive and survive in Europe.