Idea niepodległości w pismach arcybiskupa Zygmunta Szczęsnego Felińskiego

Abstract

An idea оf the independence in writings of archbishop Zygmunt S. Feliński (1822-1895) is discussed in this article. Feliński rose the question about Polish right for the independence, causes of its loss and chances for its recover. He considered a moral right for the independence for Poles and for other nations to be inborn and obvious, because given by God. Therefor independence aspirations were regarded by Feliński as an almost religious obligation. He emphasized a difference between nation as God’s creation and state as a human creation. Linking to romantic Messianism, Feliński mentioned that a special mission had been given by God for all nations and all men. Transmission of evangelical rules to public and private life was regarded by him as the mission given by God for Polish nation. According to him Poland lost its independence when gave up that mission. Therefor Feliński thought military action was not right way to the independence. He opposed insurrection aspirations in the early 1860s, linking to „Biali” („Whites”) political camp and Andrzej Zamoyski. Instead of a military fight, he popularized work on moral revival of the nation, linking to conservative ideas (declared particulary by Cracovian conservatists).