VEŠTINA GOVORNIŠTVA NIKOLE PAŠIĆA
Oratory of Nikola Pašić

Summary/Abstract: Much has been written about Nikola Pašić, politician, statesman and diplomat, during his lifetime, and even more lately on. And yet, historiography has so far been denied a comprehensive work which would at least partly, elucidate his personality. For various reasons and despite numerous attempts, the least was written about his speeches. His subsequently found statements and above all, his speeches held at political meetings, party conventions and on festive occasions, were an object of an analysis with the aim of deciphering the „art of oratory” and speeches as historical sources. Firstly, the contents of a speech by a politician, statesman and a diplomat depends on the position the speaker holds in the pecking order of social or political power, and on how he outlines his programme. Another important factor of speech as a historical source lies in the relation between the structure and contents of a speech and the audience for which it is meant. The third factor is the question whether a speech represents a turning point in form and way of delivery, and if it is innovative. As a historical source, a speech can delineate personal characteristics and psychological type of a historical personage. Speeches can be also regarded as the state of political culture on general or individual level. When selecting speeches of a statesman it is important that their diversity help form an overall picture of his character and activities. Historian should not let a speech itself reveal a historical personage; with the aid of the critical apparatus he should explain the circumstances in which a speech was delivered, establish veracity etc. On the example of selected speeches of N. Pašić, it is plain to see that the opinion of him as „bad speaker and excellent tactitian and parlamentary” universally held up to now, does not hold true. His speeches show him to have been a pragmatic statesman, politician and diplomat who could also be rethorically inspired if need be, knowing also to stirr deeper emotions with his audience.

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