X THE RISE OF ITALIAN FASCISM
(though this is not a deliberate thesis), that the cry of danger
from bolshevism was a deliberately adopted lie, adopted
for its value as a psychological lever. He shows that far
from being dangerous, moderate socialism as well as extreme
socialism was, in its leaders, its hopes and tactics, innocently
humane. The leaders were too noble to envisage the
coming ignobility, too humane to imagine the advent of
crushing inhumanities. Those who excelled in cruelty won.
Since then, their victories at home and abroad have
accumulated and they have gone from strength to strength.
The mendacity of danger from bolshevism, concocted for
use at home, and successful there, has been every bit as
serviceable in international relations.
As we read this record we become acutely aware of the
I character of Mussolini in action and the strategy and tactics
\ of fascist aggression, at first domestic. Political demands
| are made, so abnormal and far-reaching., that opponents
; are staggered into a state of shock, hypnosis, and self-doubt,
; causing retreat and disastrous fumbling. Secondly, the
\ intellect and character, private and public, of opponents
are vilified in terms so unscrupulous and disgusting that the
.non-political masses come to believe that there must be
,some truth in what they are told. The paradox is that the
very monstrosity of the allegations sways to belief therein,
as average men cannot believe that people can be so wicked
as to make such terrible charges without a basis of truth.
Particularly did and do the fascists stigmatize the most
capable leaders on the other side. Thirdly, occurs the
Imscrupulous fomenting of agitation and violent assaults
!pn fellow citizens who, according to plan, are enraged,
whereupon, facing provoked retribution, the fascists claim
the right of armed self-defence—and another cycle of
/violence begins. Fourthly, they make a fake noble appeal
!for justice for their own cause to move their opponents to
make concessions to them, but do not yield a reciprocal
concession to their opponents. This is sometimes dignified
by the title ofc relativity ' of principle. Fifthly, the fascists,
especially influenced in this case by the personal character
of Mussolini, practise, as they regularly promise, revenge.
No phrase is more common in the speeches of the leaders