The Political and National Aspects of the Phenomenon of ZEMLJAŠTVO (Compatriotism) in Dalmatia (1873 – 1878)

U ovom radu autor prikazuje do sada nedovoljno istraženu djelatnosti Narodne srednjačke stranke, nazvane “zemljačka” po svom glasilu Zemljak, koja je djelovala u Dalmaciji u razdoblju od 1873. do 1876. Uz to, autor prikazuje utjecaj “zemljaštva” na postupni proces osamostaljenje srpskog pokreta u pokrajini. U radu je najprije prikazan politički kontekst nastanka “zemljaštva” kako s obzirom na političko središte u Beču tako i s obzirom na političku situaciju u Dalmaciji. Prikazan je i polemički sukob lista Zemljak s glasilom Narodne stranke Narodni list, posebno s obzirom na proklamiranu “zemljačku” težnju k “poboljšanju i unapređenju stvarnog i duševnog blagostanja našeg naroda” tj. širih slojeva slavenskog stanovništva Dalmacije u suradnji s vladom u Beču. Takva politika narodnjacima je izgledala ne kao pragmatični oportunizam, nego kao obično političko poslušništvo. Potpuni politički potop Narodne srednjačke stranke na prvim izravnim izborima za Carevinsko vijeće u listopadu 1873. pokazao je da oni nisu bili realna politička snaga koja može ugroziti prevlast Narodne stranke. U tom kontekstu autor je prikazao poticaje koje su “Zemljaci” davali procesu osamostaljenja srpskog pokreta; najprije kroz pokušaj politizacije ćirilice, a onda i kroz isticanje prava Srba na teritorijalnu autonomiju u Dalmaciji. Sve to “Zemljacima” nije donijelo očekivanu političku korist, ali je dugoročno naškodilo Narodnoj stranci, posebno nakon konačnog sukoba sa Stefanom Ljubišom koji je u svom saborskom govoru iz 1877. narodnjake optužio da ga progone jer je “narodnošću Srb”. Nakon ovog Ljubišinog nastupa narodnjaci su se morali suočiti sa sve jačom djelatnošću pristalica samostalnosti srpskog pokreta u Dalmaciji koja je 1879. rezultirala odvajanjem srpskih političara od Narodne stranke i stvaranjem Srpske narodne stranke na Primorju 1880.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\u27s 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