The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1920. ITALIAN, PEASANTS' CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1920. ITALIAN, PEASANTS' CAMPAIGN.

In a recent cable message from Paris it was stated that an unconfirmed report from Italy indicated that a Soviet regime had Been established in many Italian cities, including Rome, Geneva, Florence, Milan and Turin. The result of the last general election in Italy plainly demonstrated that certain eruptive forces were at work tending towards Sovietism, or its equivalent in the direction of anarchy. That the worst features of a political and industrial upheaval were not then prominent appears fairly clear; ]spssibly the masses were not ready with a programme and the necessary leaders to carry it out, hence law and order prevailed. At the'same time this revolutionary smoke gave evidence of the existence of smouldering fires that were capable of being fanned into flames at any moment. That there is grave unrest in Italy cannot be denied, and that the trouble is taking a firm hold appears more than' probable. How grave the unrest is can only be estimated accurately by those on the spot, whose special business is to become thoroughly conversant with the attitude, temper, and a|ms of the people. The Rome correspondent of the London Observer is exceptionally qualified in this respect, and it is significant that in his judgment it becomes clearer every day that Italy is faced with | something different from a mere series of sporadic and uneorrelated disturbances, but that a, regui lar transmutation of values is taking place, and that this phenomenon will certainly have its [ influence on the social and econoI mic life of other countries. That is the most pernicious features of upheavals of this nature; it is like the ripple caused by throwing a |tone 'into the lake-—it spreads in

an ever-widening arc. Practically the strikes and other disturbances are the outward and visible sign of the volcanic forces that are agitating the peasants and workmen, somewhat on similar lines to those found in Russia. The peasants ' campaign appears to be now well organised, the leader being Signor Miglioli, a deputy of the Clerical Party, and the term "Migliolism" has taken its place in the political language of the day. Migliolism is described as "the anarchy of the peasants, an anarchy in which, strange to say, they are often supported by the priests." The centre of the disorders is the Cremona district, and it is said that the peasants there ' have nothing to learn from the official socialists. Some astonish-j : ment may well be expressed at the j action of the Clerical Party in as-j sociating themselves with anar-1 cMc propaganda -and action. An;] explanation is to be found in the', fact that this party won many! votes at the elections last year by] seeking to outbid the Socialists in! promises to the peasants, with the | result that the Popular Party, j nominally a party of order, has a tail of very tumultuous and viollent followers. The effect of this immoral trend of a political party to adopt any means, no matter how dangerous, in order to obtain domination, has only too frequently been demonstrated. It is at the'root of nine-tenths of national upheavals, and a considerable proportion of international troubles. The spread of this degrading policy is fraught' with world-wide evil, in that it inculcates the_ doctrine of might as opposed to right; it inflames human passions by its appeal to the lust for power and plunder, and its end can only be chaos and anarchy. Judging by the reports presented by the Italian correspondents of London newspapers, Migliolism is assuming some of the worst features of Bed wanton destructiveness. It is stated that at Soresina the peasants have let the cattle die in hundreds, while the corn has been destroyed in the fields, yet there is a woeful shortage of foodstuffs in Europe. To make matters worse in the eyes of all Christian nations, the leader of this campaign is surrounded by a group of clerical organisers, including several priests. Practically the peasants have declared war on the landowners by dictating such terms for the division of the products of the soil that virtually mean confiscation, the object being to destroy private ownership. "The hay is burnt, vines are cut, plants uprooted, and the production of milk and milk products is. held up," recently said the Giornale d'ltalia. Eailwaymen have practically taken possession of the train services in North Italy. Where will it end? That depends on t|ie sanity or otherwise of the majority of the people. At present Sovietism, if not already established, must be perilously near in Italy.