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DR. JURAJ ŽERJAVIĆ – SPIRITUS AGENS OF THE ELECTORAL MOVEMENT AND »REBELLION« IN MARIJA BISTRICA IN 1892
Jasna TURKALJ
Sažetak
During the elections for the Croatian Parliament in 1892 clergy that supported Croatian Party of the Rights started to openly agitate for this party. One has to bear in mind that during the previous elections in 1887 the Party of the Rights acted in coalition with other opposition parties, and they nominated only two clergymen. On the other hand, at the elections in 1892 the Party of the Rights acted independently and nominated eight priests. This increase of priesthood among the party’s candidates partly was the result of the fact that in 1891 cardinal Josip Mihanović has deceased, and this cardinal during 1880s had prosecuted many priests who were politically active; especially if they supported the Party of the Rights. Among these politically active priests there was also dr. Juraj Žerjavić, the
parish priest in Marija Bistirca and sub-archdeacon in the Stubica district. Although he was not nominated candidate during these elections, Žerjavić was one of the most prominent clerics among the members of the party, and member of the inner circle of the Party of
the Rights. Since Žerjavić had bailed party’s political newspapers Hrvatska [Croatia] in 1886, the regime started to investigate him. Still, Žerjavić was not prosecuted until 1892, when he openly supported party’s candidate in the Stubica electoral district. Namely, the entire Žerjavić’s case was brought to the court of justice exactly during the elections, and regime prosecutor’s office maintained that he was spiritus agens of the entire political opposition movement in Marija Bistrica. Moreover, the regime newspapers insinuated that
the parish priest of Marija Bistirca was behind all the peasants’ rebellion during the elections. At the end Žerjavić was sentenced on one month prison because of his provocation and encouragement of the rebellion during his Sunday sermons. Similarly, during the trial
against rebellious peasants, it was pointed out that the chief root of the entire problem was Žerjavić’s »restless spirit« and open agitation. Therefore, since all these events became an unpleasant affair that involved one of the most prominent members of the Party of the Rights and the distinguished clergyman, oppositional parties used it as an illustration of the conditions in which the elections were held. On the other hand, the fact that Žerjavić was sentenced on prison clearly revealed that regime of ban Khuen was quite rigorous
regarding the political agitation of the clergy, though the involved persons could be of the prominent social status.
Ključne riječi
Parliament elections; 1892; Marija Bistrica; The Party of the Rights; parish priest dr. Juraj Žerjavić; »rebellion«; prosecutions
Hrčak ID:
74300
URI
Datum izdavanja:
21.6.2011.
Posjeta: 2.330 *