Anit-Fascism

Clothed as a lamb, Benito Mussolini once said to Don Sturzo, head of the Popular Party (Roman Catholic), that there was no reason for the separate existence of his party, since Fascism was identified with the protection of Roman Catholic Church interests. But the party remained.

At a speech in Turin last month, Don Sturzo said: "We support those better balanced and more intelligent adherents of Fascismo who are hostile to the dictatorial instinct." The significance of this statement lies in its extrinsic value. Take for example Don Sturzo's position. He is the head of the Popular Party--the sole political organization that has survived the annihilating forces of Fascismo. No government, not even excepting the Fascisti, has ever come into existence without the support of this party. Its position is strong enough in Italy to make the unilateral Government now in power heed their own position. That is why Don Sturzo can freely attack the dictatorial policy of Mussolini. In view of the rumored understanding between the Fascisti, who are openly, and the Vatican, which is supposedly hostile to democratic and parliamentary methods of government, it is probable that Don Sturzo would not care at the moment to make a wholesale attack on Fascismo.

Another anti-Fascismo incident occurred in Northern Italy when Colonel Rossetti interrupted a Fascist meeting with cries of "Viva I'Italia libera" and "A basso il Fascismo!" He was then manhandled by the crowd, who subsequently discovered that their victim was the man who sank the Viribus Unitis (flagship of the Austrian navy) single-handed during the war. Rossetti speaking of this experience said: "I was treated by the Austrians with all the honors of war when I was their prisoner, but when I breathe the sacred word Liberta, all I get from my own countrymen is kicks!"