The Restoration of Constitutional Order in Croatia in 1860 and Political Position of Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer at the End of 1862. In honour of the 150th Anniversary of the Multi-Party System in Croatian Parliament

U radu se ukratko prikazuje stanje u Hrvatskoj pred kraj Bečkog apsolutizma koji je dokinuo ustavni poredak u Austrijskoj monarhiji. Zbog unutarnjih i vanjskih neuspjeha Austrijske monarhije morala je Bečka vlada krajem 1860. g. odbaciti apsolutistički način vladanja i vratiti ustavni poredak. Hrvati su s radošću dočekali otvaranje svojega Sabora 15. travnja 1861. g. na kojem su s puno zanosa i nade radili na unutarnjem uređenju Hrvatske kao i na političkom odnosu Hrvatske kako s Mađarskom tako i s Austrijskom carevinom. U prijelomnim i sudbonosnim vremenima uoči povratka i nakon povratka ustava 1861. g. Strossmayer je činio sve da putem raznih institucija a osobito putem Hrvatskog sabora osigura hrvatskom narodu samostalnu i slobodnu te cjelovitu Hrvatsku pa makar unutar austrijske carevine. Strossmayer je svakom prilikom naglašavao povijesno-državno pravo Hrvatske na njezinu samostalnost i slobodu kao i cjelovitost, dokazujući da su Dalmacija, Vojna granica, Međimurje i Rijeka s okolicom sastavni dijelovi matice Hrvatske. Osim političkih pretpostavki Strossmayer se zalagao i za gospodarski te kulturno-prosvjetni razvoj Hrvatske bez čega nije bilo moguće ostvariti, kako je držao, ni politički razvoj i stabilnost Hrvatske. Glede vanjske politike Strossmayer se prvenstveno na Hrvatskom saboru ali i svakom drugom prikladnom prilikom zalagao za savez Hrvatske s Mađarskom, ali na jednakim osnovama, uz uvjet da Mađarska prizna Hrvatskoj samostalnost i cjelovitost. A u odnosu na Austrijsku monarhiju Strossmayer je zastupao federalističko uređenje za sve države u višenacionalnoj monarhiji. Dakle svima narodima jednake dužnosti ali i jednaka prava.The article briefly depicts the situation in Croatia at the end of the Austrian absolutism, which abolished the constitutional order of the Monarchy. Because of the internal and external failures of Austrian Monarchy, at the end of 1860 the government in Vienna had to reject absolutist rule and to restore constitutional order. Croatians gladly welcomed the opening of their Parliament on April 15th, 1861, when, with a lot of enthusiasm and hope, they worked on interior organisation of Croatia, as well as political relations between Croatia and Hungary, and that with the Austrian Empire. In turbulent and momentous times on the eve of the return and after the restoration of the Constitution in 1861, Strossmayer did all that he could through a variety of institutions, in particular through the Croatian Parliament, to ensure for Croatian people an independent, free and integral Croatia, even if within the Austrian Empire. On every occasion Strossmayer stressed the historic municipal rights of Croatia for independence and freedom and integrity, proving that Dalmatia, Military Border, Međimurje and Rijeka with the surrounding areas are all constitutive components of Croatia. In addition to political preconditions, Strossmayer advocated for economic, educational and cultural development of Croatia without which it was impossible to achieve, as he held, political development and stability of Croatia. With regards to foreign policy, Strossmayer, primarily in Croatian Parliament and on any other appropriate occasion, advocated Croatian alliance with Hungary, but on the equal basis, provided that Hungary recognized Croatia’s independence and integrity, and in relations to Austrian Monarchy, Strossmayer voted for federative structure for all countries in the multinational monarchy, so that all nations could have equal duties, yet also equal rights