"Civis Romanus Sum"

Upon the 2,677th anniversary of the foundation of the Eternal City, which is also the Fascisti Labor Day, the freedom of the city of Rome was conferred upon Benito, Premier of Italy, by Senator Filippo Cremonesi, Royal Commissioner of Rome, a position carrying the powers of mayor and alderman.*

The solemn ceremony took place on Capitol Hill. The Capitoline Halls were filled with bemedaled Black Shirts and uniformed officers. Senator Cremonesi, in opening the proceedings, explained that the high honor "is reserved for the highest and is coveted by many but granted to few," and was bestowed upon Benito for his services in "saving Italy from the forces of anarchy and revolution, and preparing the way for new conquests and new glories." He then dwelt upon what a high honor it was considered all down the ages to be able to say Civis Romanus Sum.

Then turning to Benito he continued:

"But you are like the ancients. Indeed, you are perhaps greater than them all. You found our country a prey to anarchy and on the verge of dissolution, and you have brought her safely to port and are preparing to unfurl her sails and steer her to new conquests and glories.

"You, alone and unarmed, you, with only a small handful of followers, uttered your battle cry, which spread like fire from end to end of the country. No one was able to oppose you, and you entered Rome in triumph after a victory which was more like a victory of Rome than a victory against Rome. . . .

"Nobody better than yourself possesses the imperial spirit of Rome. Your voice is like a bugle call before battle. The people follow you and await your orders.

"Rome must again become the radiant capital of the Latin world. Rome must again conquer the imperial dignity. She must not rule by force of arms, or grow rich by the labor of subject peoples, but she must again lead the world in virtue of the genius of her sons and the indomitable virtues of her people."

Replying to these elegant vaporings, Benito modestly returned:

"You are conferring prizes on me in advance. My work is only just beginning, and I would have preferred that Rome should accept me when my labors are done.

"Rome is the only city in the world which has a universal history, and we must continue her glories. Imperial Rome must live again. Indeed, it lives already in spirit, because we have the means of doing it and we do not lack genius.

"In Rome there are two main classes of problems, problems of practical necessity and problems of moral grandeur. The first consists in lack of houses and means of communications. This will be faced and solved immediately. The problem of greatness consists largely in removing the other problems, that Rome may be worthy of her history and glory, which constantly renews itself. To dp this we must have faith and tenacity, such as the ancient Romans had."

Benito then ended his speech in true Faseista style:

"Hail, goddess Rome! Hail to you and your sons, who are always ready to fight and die for you and your glory!"

*The Mayor and Aldermen of Rome, having Red tendencies, were virtually ousted by the Fascisti in March, 1923, since when they have been replaced by a Royal Commissioner.