GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE 223

that of the Leader; against the emphasis laid by Socialists on the
influence of economic forces and classes, Fascism stresses the
idea of the "hero", the great man who moulds history. All
authority springs from the Leader; he may claim to represent
the people's will, and when he first comes to power this may be
true; but he does not allow it to be put to the test. Mussolini has
held occasional elections and Hitler has submitted some of his
actions to the judgment of a plebiscite. This device, however, is
only advertisement: those who might wish to vote NO cannot
conduct propaganda; the duty of voting YES is plainly intimated;
and no one supposes that a majority against the dictator would
lead to his resignation. The voter has only a choice between the
dictator and nothing. The dictator receives a huge majority to
which no one outside his jurisdiction attaches importance. The
complete and irresponsible power of the dictator should be
remembered, because the claim is sometimes made that he
represents the people far more truly than any democratic Govern-
ment; but the only way to test this assertion is to allow free
discussion, which dictatorship repudiates. Mussolini, Hitler, and
a British Cabinet with a Parliamentary majority, all wield
enormous powers; but only the last allows the people to pronounce .
considered judgment. Fascists claim that the "Leadership
Principle" secures that Government is carried on by those best
fitted for it. Whereas, in a democracy, persons may rise to power
by the use of those arts which charm a meeting and win votes,
the Leader, can select on grounds of ability. It is assumed that the
Leader will not be moved by flattery and that his judgment will
be right; yet Leaders rise to power by demagogy, and in the
speeches which they and their subordinates make, flattery and
emotional assertion take the place of argument. Passion, deter-
mination, ruthlessness, and a keen eye for the opponent's weak-
nesses are the qualities which the Fascist Leader must possess:
administrative ability and wide knowledge, though desirable,
and certainly present in Mussolini, are not essential.
This exaltation of an individual causes Fascism to take different