Jan Ludwik Popławski
Encyclopedia
Jan Ludwik Popławski was a Polish publicist, politician and one of the first chief activists and ideologues of the right-wing National Democracy political camp.
Popławski entered in 1874 the University of Warsaw
. As a student he belonged to patriotic political organization Confederation of Polish Nation (Konfederacja Narodu Polskiego). In 1878 he was arrested by Russian
authorities. Released in 1882, Popławski returned to Warsaw and began to write in Prawda (Truth) newspaper under pen name
Wiat. Since 1886 he worked in Głos
(The Voice) weekly.
He was arrested in 1894 for participation in manifestation commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Kościuszko Uprising
(1794) in Warsaw. In 1895 he was bailed out and released from Warsaw Citadel
. Popławski eventually moved to Lwów, where together with Roman Dmowski
published political magazine Przegląd Wszechpolski (The All-Poland Review), in 1897–1901 he was the sole editor-in-chief. He later contributed to Wiek XX (20th century) daily and Słowo Polskie (The Polish Word).
Popławski was one of the main organizers of National-Democratic Party
in the Austrian partition
. Since 1896 he edited Polak (Pole) monthly, published in Kraków
dedicated mainly to readers of peasant masses in Russian partition
. Later he became one of the founders of Ojczyzna (Motherland) weekly for Galicia.
One of the main ideas of his works was the issue of returning the Western lands to Poland
, in particular Pomerania
with the widest possible access to the Baltic Sea
. Although focusing mostly on Western lands under Prussian partition
, Popławski eventually also favoured inclusion of some Eastern territories to future independent Poland. He summarized these goals in 1901:
Popławski was also one of the most active social activists dealing with peasants' issues. Through his organic work and writings he elevated awareness of poor village masses about their role in forming the modern Polish nation. Popławski understood peasants as backbone of national existence and the only basis for national regeneration. In Popławski's view the ethnic heritage had little to do with nationality:
After riots in Polish lands in 1905–1906, following the revolution of 1905, Popławski returned to Warsaw and took part in leadership of National Democratic movement. He entered editorial staff of Gazeta Polska (Polish Daily) daily.
In 1907 he fell seriously ill and retreated from publishing. He was diagnosed with throat cancer. Jan Ludwik Popławski died on 12 March 1908 in Warsaw.
Popławski entered in 1874 the University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
. As a student he belonged to patriotic political organization Confederation of Polish Nation (Konfederacja Narodu Polskiego). In 1878 he was arrested by Russian
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
authorities. Released in 1882, Popławski returned to Warsaw and began to write in Prawda (Truth) newspaper under pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Wiat. Since 1886 he worked in Głos
Głos (1886–1905)
Głos was a Polish language social, literary and political weekly review published in Warsaw between 1886 and 1905. It was one of the leading journals of the Polish positivist movement. Many of the most renowned Polish writers published their novels in Głos, which also became a tribune of the...
(The Voice) weekly.
He was arrested in 1894 for participation in manifestation commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Kościuszko Uprising
Kosciuszko Uprising
The Kościuszko Uprising was an uprising against Imperial Russia and the Kingdom of Prussia led by Tadeusz Kościuszko in Poland, Belarus and Lithuania in 1794...
(1794) in Warsaw. In 1895 he was bailed out and released from Warsaw Citadel
Warsaw Citadel
Cytadela is a 19th-century fortress in Warsaw, Poland. It was built by order of Tsar Nicholas I after the suppression of the 1830 November Uprising in order to bolster imperial Russian control of the city. It served as a prison into the late 1930s.- History :The Citadel was built by personal...
. Popławski eventually moved to Lwów, where together with Roman Dmowski
Roman Dmowski
Roman Stanisław Dmowski was a Polish politician, statesman, and chief ideologue and co-founder of the National Democracy political movement, which was one of the strongest political camps of interwar Poland.Though a controversial personality throughout his life, Dmowski was instrumental in...
published political magazine Przegląd Wszechpolski (The All-Poland Review), in 1897–1901 he was the sole editor-in-chief. He later contributed to Wiek XX (20th century) daily and Słowo Polskie (The Polish Word).
Popławski was one of the main organizers of National-Democratic Party
National-Democratic Party (Poland)
Stronnictwo Narodowo-Demokratyczne was a Polish political party founded in 1897 by Roman Dmowski to represent the National Democracy movement at elections. It was a political opponent of the Polish Socialist Party. In 1919, when Poland regained independence, the National-Democratic Party was...
in the Austrian partition
Austrian partition
The Austrian partition refers to the former territories of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth acquired by the Austrian Empire during the partitions of Poland in late 18th century.-History:...
. Since 1896 he edited Polak (Pole) monthly, published in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
dedicated mainly to readers of peasant masses in Russian partition
Russian partition
The Russian partition was the former territories of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth that were acquired by the Russian Empire in the late-18th-century Partitions of Poland.-Terminology:...
. Later he became one of the founders of Ojczyzna (Motherland) weekly for Galicia.
One of the main ideas of his works was the issue of returning the Western lands to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, in particular Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
with the widest possible access to the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. Although focusing mostly on Western lands under Prussian partition
Prussian partition
The Prussian partition refers to the former territories of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth acquired during the partitions of Poland in the late 18th century by the Kingdom of Prussia.-History:...
, Popławski eventually also favoured inclusion of some Eastern territories to future independent Poland. He summarized these goals in 1901:
"The country between the Oder and the DnieperDnieper RiverThe Dnieper River is one of the major rivers of Europe that flows from Russia, through Belarus and Ukraine, to the Black Sea.The total length is and has a drainage basin of .The river is noted for its dams and hydroelectric stations...
, between the Baltic and the Carpathians and the Black SeaBlack SeaThe Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
, stands as a separate organic whole, a cohesive unity of territorial conditions, economic interests, and finally historical tradition."
Popławski was also one of the most active social activists dealing with peasants' issues. Through his organic work and writings he elevated awareness of poor village masses about their role in forming the modern Polish nation. Popławski understood peasants as backbone of national existence and the only basis for national regeneration. In Popławski's view the ethnic heritage had little to do with nationality:
"Being born or living on a certain territory and descending [from a certain] tribe not only cannot decide the nationality of thousands and millions of people, but not even a single person. Centuries of common political life, common spiritual and material culture, common interests, etc., mean one hundred times more than common descent or even language."
After riots in Polish lands in 1905–1906, following the revolution of 1905, Popławski returned to Warsaw and took part in leadership of National Democratic movement. He entered editorial staff of Gazeta Polska (Polish Daily) daily.
In 1907 he fell seriously ill and retreated from publishing. He was diagnosed with throat cancer. Jan Ludwik Popławski died on 12 March 1908 in Warsaw.
Works
- Stanisław Żółkiewski: Wielki hetman koronny (1903)
- Szkice literackie i naukowe (1910)
- Pisma polityczne (vol. 1–2, 1910)
- Wybór pism (1998)