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war had been frittered away and that the country had sunk into such a slough of despond that not a voice was raised to proclaim its needs and aspirations.
Now began the healthy reaction, which sprang forth from the living forces of the country, and from the people arose a man of more spacious views, who realized the danger and saw where salvation lay. He at once took up his position against the mean opportunism of Parliamentary intriguers, and proclaimed his fighting programme with courageous conviction enlightened by a truly Roman ideal of his country's greatness.
Let us not forget the situation as it was before Benito Mussolini became Prime Minister. Gross insults to the national flag went unpunished, the Army, ex-combatants and war-disabled veterans were outraged in the streets, the public services were daily subjected to arbitrary suspensions, the legal organs for the defence of property and order were admittedly impotent; the result was that the economic and financial efficiency of the country were gravely jeopardized, while abroad there was a general and absolute lack of confidence in Italy.
