Redaktora Ludwika Gumplowicza potyczki z krakowską C. K. Prokuratorią Państwa (1869–1871). Przyczynek do dziejów cenzury w Galicji autonomicznej

Abstract

The problems of Editor Ludwik Gumplowicz with the office of the State Attorney in Kraków (1869–1871). The supplement of the history of Austrian censorshipof the press in autonomous Galicia

(Summary)

Ludwik Gumplowicz became an editor of Kraj in Kraków in October 1869 andsoon he had the fi rst contact with the watchful Austrian censorship. % e articleswhich promoted national independence within the federation of the Austro-HungarianMonarchy, criticized the authorities or the army, or which had the liberaltone, made the Kraków offi ce of the State Attorney take some measures.Although the constitution, the press law (passed in 1862) and its liberal amendments(1868), along with two press control acts from March 1869 guaranteed thefreedom of speech, the state officials were still quite oppressive. Gumplowicz wasan anticlerical who criticized fi ercely the political and social status quo in Krakówand was rejected by the conservative élites of Kraków. As a result some of his newspaper’sissues were confi scated and he went to court to demand compensations. Hewas frequently accused of breaking the law after publishing uncompromising articlesin his newspaper but, in most cases, he was acquitted. In his court battles heshowed his oratorical talent and antiloyalist fi erceness and used his legal educationand experience as well (he studied law and worked as a solicitor).In the article we are trying to analyse the political signifi cance of the incriminatedarticles and, by studying the court archives, examine how the court worked,and the law was executed, what were the motives of the legal action against Gumplowicz and how he defended himself in court.