Mykolo Römerio kelias į pilietiškumą

LTTurimais duomenimis, taip pat ir kategorišku paties Mykolo Römerio tvirtinimu, su Lietuvoje vykusiu tautiniu lietuvių renesansu ryšio jis neturėjęs iki 1904 m., nors apie šį reiškinį žinojęs ir vertinęs jį palankiai. Paskutiniųjų metų Mykolo Römerio gyvenimas ir Lietuvos labui nuveikti dideli darbai pelnė jam visuotinį pripažinimą ir garbę. Na, o anapus takoskyros liko vaikystės ir ankstyvos jaunystės metai su jiems būdingu nepakankamai brandžiu gyvenimo reiškinių suvokimu ir tokiomis pat ateities vizijomis. M. Römerio požiūrio į lietuvių tautinį judėjimą raida bei veiksniai, ją nulėmę - tai delikatus, perdėm asmeniškas dalykas, kurį geriausiai išryškintų pats M. Römeris, net jeigu jam nepavyktų išvengti subjektyvumo, dažnai atsirandančio gyvenimo saulėlydyje, žvelgiant į praeitį ir ją vertinant [p. 24].

ENThe article deals with the development of Mykolas Römeris’s attitude towards his homeland, towards Lithuania and the Lithuanians. A Polish spirit was predominant in the home of the Römeriai and the Polish language was used by the family. But all the Römeriai could speak fluent Lithuanian and did not avoid it. In the childish vision of Mykolas Römeris Lithuania and Poland seemed to be just two different parts of a single thing. For almost 10 years, while a student Mykolas Römeris lived far away from Lithuania, in St. Petersburg, and that is why he was not aware of the broadening Lithuanian national movement until about 1900-1901, i. e. almost before the end of his studies. It was a great surprise for him to discover this movement attempting to establish an independent national entity as being different from that of the Poles. Being in principle well disposed towards the Lithuanian national revival, due to his subjective understanding of the process according to which the Lithuanian national movement was alleged to aspire to the foundation of a national rather than territorial structure thus leaving the local people of non-Lithuanian nationalities outside this structure, Römeris for some time was painfully looking for his place in this process he until decided to remain in solitude, hoping, however, that the life itself would bring him to common work with the Lithuanians. Having arrived in Paris in 1902 to continue his studies, Römeris joined in the public movement of the Polish students, took part in the meetings of the Russian youth, and was interested in the French public movement. At the beginning of 1904 a society of young Lithuanians studying in Paris who approved of their homeland’s aspiration for independence, called Lithuania, was set up. The initiator and soul of the society was Juozas Petrulis (1876-1958).It was this man who greatly influenced Römeris’s views and attitudes. Petrulis succeeded in persuading Römeris that although a Pole living in Lithuania, he not only could but had to go together with his homeland, be a citizen and that civic duties equally concerned both Lithuanians and non-Lithuanians. From then Römeris joined in the work of the society with all his energy. The society was not large; besides, its membership was in a continuous change and renewal: some were leaving Paris, others were coming and joining in. However its activity was broad and diverse. Problems of the Lithuanian national revival, the Lithuanian press, civil society, civic duties and others were discussed here. Polish was used in the discussions. Römeris’s participation and activity in the society could be called an academy of Lithuanian citizenship which was invaluable for his political orientation and future activities. Back in Lithuania in 1905, Römeris was eager to make his own contribution to the propagation and realization of the ideas inspired by the Parisian society - to organise such a democratic movement among the Poles of Lithuania which would reconcile them with the reviving Lithuanian nation, could help to unite the efforts towards Lithuania’s independence, towards democracy and civil society. The foundation of the daily Gazeta Wileńska (in Polish) 1906 was his first step in this direction. At the end of the article, information is provided on the influence of another Lithuanian - Juozapas Albinas Herbačiauskas - on Römeris’s views due to their contacts in Cracow in 1906-1907; under this influence he considered the Poles of Lithuania as a certain category of Lithuanian citizens. The idea of civil society became the main aim of Römeris activity for all his life.