The Daily Independent

THIS newspaper has entertained and expressed a hope that the unpredictable Premier Benito Mussolini might abandon the role of a Caesar and find a greater glory in essaying the role of a Prince of Peace.

Never was the time more ripe for the emergence of a new world savior, and Mussolini, of all men in the lime light of our times, has imminent qualifications for that inviting role. He has the virility, the vision, the force of personality and a mastery of slogans with which to lead mankind into the sun-lit, flower-strewn paths of peace as easily as he points the footsteps of his own nationals down the corpse-strewn road to war with its fire, its smoke, its poison gases and the shrieks and curses of maddened men.

But we are fast abandoning hope that the war-drunken dictator of Fascist Italy will ever see any other light than the fires engulfing his enemies. No light from heaven such as struck Saul on his way to Damascus could hardly impress Il Duce, who probably esteems himself mightier than God.

Too bad for Mussolini! He is in a fair way to be destroyed and take his place in history with Tamerlane and Genghis Khan.

It looks as if England, France and Russia are preparing to defy him. The United States would support such an alliance, neutrality pacts not being worth a hurrah in the hell of war. Mussolini and Hitler could not stand up against an alliance of England, France, Russia and the United States. No, not even with the aid of the ruthlessly militant Japanese.