YoungstownskeÌ SlovenskeÌ noviny = Youngstown Slovak news. (Youngstown, Ohio) 1910-1940, 1930-06-27
DECLARATION

DECLARATION
Although Croatia has been success
full in preserving the racial, cultural
and political individuality OF their ma
ton during all those centuries while
Croatia had formed a constituent part
of the Habsburg Empire, they were
justly dissatisfied with the subordinate
| position they occupied in Austro-Hun-
gary, and heartily welcomed the oppor-
tunity-given them by the victory Of
the Allies in 191S-to proclaim COM
plete independence of their country.
Following the traditional lines of the
Croatian political ideo1ogy, the same
| Act of the Croatian Parliament, which
proclaimed the independence of Croatia
expressed also ready willingness Of
| the Croatian Nation to join a United
State of the SlOvene. Croats and Serbs.
The reason for this willingness was
the expectation that such union would
give security to the territorial integ
rity Of Croatia. and also provide better
opportunities for the economic and
cultural development and progress
Since all these advantages would, in an
equal degree be also enjoyed Ivy the
| Slovencs and Serbs. it WaS not expect
ed that any one Of the nations enter
ing this union would be required to
sacrifice its traditional individuality
and government. especially. since
there was absolutely no roccsstv for
such a sacrifice
Soon, however, after this union lad
been realized, it became evident that
the Croatians would be disappointed
III nearly all their expectations
By the ill-iamed Vitus-day constitu-
ton pushed through the constituent
assembly by means of several fraud
ucnt deals and in the absence of Cro-
attain deputies-the eleven hundred
years old State OF Crcatia was wiped
off the map. subsequently, the whole
power in the thus centralized Kingdom
of the Serbs, Croats and Siovcncs fell
into the hands Of an immoral ring OF
insiders. group Of Serbian politicians,
plutOCrats and miIitarists, who en-
ploved that power for their own profit
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and 70 the detri-
ment of all three peoples Of that state,
but especially. to the detrimcnt of the
Croatian nation. Not only were the
|
utterly neglected in the conduct Of the
common affairs Of the union, but even
at home, on their own territor.,, Cro-
atans were subjected to a brutal op-
preston and unmerciiul exploitation.
The belief, that the integrity OF the
CrOatlan territory will be more secure
III a united state of the SlovcncS
Croats and Serbs, was shown as I'M
founded when the Belgrade govern
ment proved to be submissive and
yielding i'll every instance where Gro
attain interests were concerned (Fiumc)
Instead of better opportunities 70,
economic development, the union will
Serbia brought the Croatian people tt
the verge of economic ruin. The mali
cause of that, besides the general in
competence and criminal negligence @
the government, was the ,exorbitan
rate Of taxation, which was sevcra
times greater in Croatia than in Serb
ia While the prices of the agricultural
products, which bring more than SOW
of the countrys income, fell betweel
1922 and 1923 from 200 to 300 per cent
direct state taxes jumped 1200-15G0 pc
cent. For illustration, we quote thu
following figures from the report o
the township of PasiCevo (Act 2S94/29)
This community, whose f;nanCla
standing is better than the average il
. Jugoslavia, paid in 1922 for state take
92,507 dinars. in 1923 it paid 1,l2},ol
dnars. Nearly as much was paid il
township, country and provincial tax
, cS, while the total income OF the com
munty has been estimated at littl
7 over 9 million dinars! During 102
a and 1880 this burden was yet increase
by the introduction Of some new form
}, of taxation. No wonder that tie com
parativelv well-to-do peasants OF Pas
icevo have trouble to feed their fam
: lies.
= Continual neglect OF the Croatia
national interest; systematic plunde
of their country: constant prelerenC
l. of Serbian individuals over their Croa
y tan competitors in the distribution {
government jobs and patronage; tn
l. status of a subj people: these Wer
q the rewards received by the Croatiar
from the state which was estahlishe
n on their own initiative and mostl
n through their own efforts.
HIS SldlS Ol all dill , NdS, lldl all
= resented by the Croatians, and at ever
election that was held since 1918, the
expressed their dissatisfaction by r.
Z turning ever larger numbers Of dep1
u ties radically opposed to the Belgrac
+ government. When, in the begnnr
Of the summer of 1923, their opposite
l, became SO strong that change of Il
O whole political system in the corntr
appeared as a certainty, the power
e that-be in order to. prevent their oW
@ downfall resorted to murder. June 2
1923, one of their exponents and
l. member of the parliamentary MAORI
t. emptied his revolver into a group
, Croatian deputies killing three of II
4 recognized leaders, Stephen Radio
Y his nephew Paul and DR.. Bascarche
"a end wounding two other members
- the Croatian Peasant Party.
m Instead. however. Of suppressing II
opposition of the Croats, this loat
some crime served only to strengthe
a. it, and their demand for liberty al
Justice became even louder. Finall
-. T,.,,,. K 1000 E;,o A1ax,,,1