Two brothers, two fortunes, two countries

Pole, Lithuanian, Žemaičiai, European – All these terms are perfect to describe brothers of Narutowicz – Stanisław (1862-1931) and Gabriel (1865-1922). They were born in Brėvikiai. They had noble origins and their family had lived in Žemaitija (Latina: Samogitia) for generations. Their father, Jan Narutowicz, took part in the Uprising in 1863, and died in 1866.

One of the brothers was a well-known Lithuanian activist, politician and signatory to Act of Independence of Lithuania. The second one contributed to the regeneration of Poland. He was the first president of independent Poland but earlier he was known for being a well-known engineer. The brothers had a lot in common and they were separated by the boundary of two countries that were enemies at the beginning of the previous century. Gabriel Narutowicz died in December in 1922, being assassinated. Ten years later, his brother Stanisław commited a suicide (shot himself) in 1932 in Kowne.

According to Lithuanian historiography, family and health problems were the reason of the suicide. However, Polish historians suppose that the reason of depression might have been politics – the disappointment of intransigence of Poles and the attitude of Lithuanian Government towards Polish minorities in Lithuania.

Stanisław Narutowicz tried to improve the relations between Poland and Lithuania. He himself considered to be Polish and believed that Polish minorities in Lithuania should have the right to maintain and cultivate their culture and language and being, at the same time, loyal inhabitants of Lithuania. Stanisław Narutowicz was fascinated with Lithuanian folk culture, Lithuanian language and Žemaitiu language, which was used – in Telsz where his family lived. It may be the reason why Stanisław, who lived in Poland at that time, came back to Lithuania and started acting for regenerating Lithuania, when he found out about the increasing conflict between Russia and Japan and possible attacks in the Russian Empire.

He took part in the Great Sejm in Vilnius from 4^th to 5^th December in 1905. Later, he participated in Lithuanian Conference 18-22 September 1917, during which Taryba (Lithuanian Council) was appointed. During the conference, he suggested the project of resolution “About the most important aim – Independent Lithuania ethnic boundaries”. Stanislaw Narutowicz is considered to be one of the most important people who fought for independence of Lithuania.

There are historians who are of the opinion that he is the author of Act of Independence. It probably is not true because the protocol of signing the Act of Independence says that Taryby Mykolas Biržiška, Steponas Kairys, Jonas Vileišis and Stanisław Narutowicz voted against the second part of the Act, which said that Lithuanian Council declared the foundations and relations between Lithuania and other countries would be arranged by Founding Sejm, chosen by all inhabitants in a democratic way, in the closest date.

Later, Vileišis, on the behalf of the people who were against the second part, declared that they are against the word „finally”, which, in his opinion, was used without their consent. They were afraid of German authorities. It means they thought that they would try to force Taryba to take over the position of Founding Sejm.

Next, it turned out that they were right in the anxiety and on 14^th July 1918, Stanisław Narutowicz left Taryba, which started to agree to constitutional monarchy, connected with Germany, in Lithuania.

Stanisław Narutowicz came back to Žemaitija, where his wife Joanna Billewicz (1868-1948) – the cousin of Józefa Piłsudskiego and Stanisław nurtured four childrens: two daughter Zofia and Helena and two sons Jan and Kazimierz. They also continued education and culture work among Lithuanian peasants.

The signatory of Act of Independence of Lithuania was fascinated with Polish culture and art. He admired the poems by Adam Mickiewicz and works by Fryderyk Chopin. He was attached to his Polish origin and he even signed the Act of Independence with his Polish surname, using “w” and “cz” in the end.

Lithuanians considered him to be too much in favour of Poland. On the other hand, Polish ND used his favour towards Lithuania in the attacks on his brother, president Gabriel Narutowicz. The hate resulted in the assassination attack on the first president of RP

Gabriel Narutowicz was buried crypt in Saint John the Baptist’s Basilica in Warsaw. His brother, Stnisław, was buried in the village cemetery in Alsėdžiai near Telšiai.

During the Soviet occupation, his grave was cleaned by (after the war his wife and children lived in Poland) the Žemaitiu peasants’ (who worked in Brėvikiai and remember ”a common man” who always helped other people) children. The surname of the signatory of Lithuanian independence with Polish „w” and „cz” is visible on the gravestone. In 1995, local authorities prepared a new gravestone and “the correct surname” – „Stanislovas Narutavičius” was engraved.

The grave on the village cemetery and devastated the manor house in Brėvikiai by people and the time that passed (owed by private people) are the places, which remind the eminent person from regeneration Lithuania period.

In 150^th anniversary of the birthday of prof. Stasys Vaitekūnas, the author of the monograph on Stanisław Narutowicz noticed that there are a considerable number of Gabriel Narutowicz Streets in Poland, while in Lithuania there is only one street of Stanisław Narutowicz, the signatory of the Act of Independence of Lithuania.

The professor noticed sarcastically that the street is at the edge of Naujoji Vilnia, near the mental hospital which according to the scientists is a blunder when a mental illness of Narutowicz’s daughter is concerned. In 2012, professor Vaitekūnas, hoped that Stanisław Narutowicz Street would appear in Telszach on the occasion of 150^th anniversary of the signatory’s birthday (Narutowicz took his effort to build a path across the centre of the capital of Žemaitija – the endnote by the ed.)
The hope of the professor came partially true, as one of the bumpy streets, which leads to the dairy’s at the edge of the town and further to the field, was called The Narutowicz’s Street. No initials were used, so people who do not know the history will not find out whether it is the street of the brothers (Stanisław and Gabriel) or The Nrutowicz’s or the whole noble family of their own coat of arms.

Source: http://kurierwilenski.lt/2014/02/14/dwaj-bracia-dwa-losy-dwa-panstwa/

Tłumaczenie by Anna Kwiatkowska w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Anna Kwiatkowska  within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.