Contribution Regarding the West -Croatian Bishops in the Rački – Strossmayer Correspondence

O hrvatskim velikanima – kanoniku, znanstveniku i političaru F. Račkome te biskupu, političaru i meceni J. J. Strossmayeru vrlo je bogata literatura. Isto tako, poznato je mnogo toga i o njihovim međusobnim odnosima. To uglavnom otkriva korespondencija između njih, od koje je znatan dio, u četiri knjige, akademik i sveučilišni profesor F. Šišić objavio od 1928. do 1931. Kapitalna su to vrela za povijest Hrvatske, ali i ostale Europe, s ocjenama brojnih događanja, znamenitih ličnosti te manje poznatih zbivanja i ljudi. Među njima vrlo otvoreno, dakle, prijateljski, ali i pristrano, ima podataka i o biskupima Jurju Dobrili, Franji Feretiću, Ivanu Krstitelju Flappu, Ivanu Glavini i Vjenceslavu Šoiću iz zapadne Hrvatske. S iznenađenjem i zadovoljstvom otkrivamo i to da su obojica velikana, i onaj u Zagrebu i onaj u Đakovu, ipak bili i «obični» ljudi.There is an abundance of literature about the important Croatian figures: F. Rački (canonic, scientist and politician) and J. J. Strossmayer (bishop, politician and patron). Their interpersonal relationship is also a known matter, since it is revealed in their written correspondence, which was published, although not completely, in the period from 1928 to 1931 in four books, by the academic and university professor F. Šišić. This is a capital source of facts regarding the Croatian history, but also regarding the rest of Europe, presenting an evaluation of many events, important people, and less known occurrences and persons. This is a frank conversation that openly, i.e. friendly but also with a bit of one sidedness, presents facts about bishops Juraj Dobrila, Franjo Feretić, Ivan Krstitelj Flapp, Ivan Glavina and Vjenceslav Šoić from Western part of Croatia. Surprisingly and with pleasure we discover that both great figures, Strossmayer and Rački, were after all also “common” people