Izvorni znanstveni članak
The Political and National Aspects of the Phenomenon of ZEMLJAŠTVO (Compatriotism) in Dalmatia (1873 – 1878)
Tihomir Rajčić
; Split, Hrvatska
Sažetak
In this paper, the author presents the so far inadequately studied activity of the Mainstream Folk Party, called zemljačka (compatriotic) after its publication Zemljak (Compatriot). The Party was active in Dalmatia in the period between 1873 and 1876. The author further describes the influence compatriotism exercised on the gradual process of Serbian movement gaining independence in the region.
First, the political context of compatriotism and its occurrence – in relation to both the political seat in Vienna and the political situation in Dalmatia – is explained. Further, the polemics between the publication Zemljak and the one issued by the Folk Party – Narodni list (Folk Paper) is presented, in particular considering the proclaimed compatriotic striving towards the improvement and enhancement of the material and spiritual welfare of our people, i.e. of the general Slavic population in Dalmatia, in collaboration with the Government in Vienna. Members of the Folk Party perceived this policy not as pragmatic oportunism, but rather merely as political servility.
The political fiasco the Peasants’ Folk Party experienced in the first direct elections for the Imperial Council in October 1873 showed that they were no real political power that might have endangered the predominance of the Folk Party. In this context, the author presented the impetus compatriots gave to the process of ensuring independence to the Serbian movement – primarily through the attempt to make the Cyrillic script a political issue, and additionally through insisting on the right of Serbs to territorial autonomy in Dalmatia.
None of the aforesaid brought any expected political gain to Zemljaci (compatriots), but it harmed the Folk Party in the long term. This particularly became evident after the final conflict with Stefan Ljubiša, who, in his speech held in the Parliament in 1877, accused the members of the Folk Party of persecuting him for being Serb by nationality.
After Ljubiša's speech, members of the Folk Party were confronted with an increased activity of the followers of the independent Serbian movement in Dalmatia; this resulted in the separation of Serbian politicians from the Folk Party in 1879, and in the establishment of the Serbian National Party in Primorje in 1880.
Ključne riječi
Mainstream Folk Party; zemljaštvo (compatriotism); Folk Party; Serbs
Hrčak ID:
131229
URI
Datum izdavanja:
19.12.2014.
Posjeta: 2.104 *