O Brasil foi o primeiro país da América Latina a reconhecer a independência da Polônia, o que foi um grande sucesso da comunidade polônica brasileira, e sobretudo de Kazimierz War-chałowski. A sua energia, obstinação e devotamento conduziram a efeitos em que poucos an-teriormente acreditavam. Isso foi o coroamento dos quinze anos da sua estada no Brasil, du-rante os quais conheceu preeminentes políticos brasileiros, entre os quais Rui Barbosa e os presidentes do Brasil Venceslau Brás e Nilo Peçanha. O envolvimento deles na causa da Po-lônia era também o sinal das crescentes aspirações do Brasil a desem¬pe¬nhar um papel mais importante na arena internacional. A I Guerra Mundial trouxe para a Po¬lônia a independência, e para o Brasil, um lugar à mesa da Conferência da Paz em Versalhes. Todos os postulados do Brasil foram aceitos. Graças ao envolvimento na guerra, ampliou-se o significado interna-cional do Brasil.
EN
Brazil was the first country in Latin America that after World War I recognized Poland’s in-dependence. This was a great success for the Brazilian Polonia, especially for Kazimierz Warchałowski. His energy, obstinacy and dedication led to effects in which few previously had believed. This meant the completion of the fifteen years of his stay in Brazil. He had known during this period preeminent Brazilian politicians, such as Rui Barbosa, the presi-dents Venceslau Brás and Nilo Peçanha. Their engagement in the Polish cause was also a sign of Brazil’s growing aspirations to play a more important role in the international arena. World War I brought Independence to Poland and, to Brazil, a place at the Peace Conference table in Versailles. All Brazilian postulates were accepted there. Thanks to the involvement in the war Brazil saw a growth in its international significance.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, writers and poets played a huge role in shaping and sustaining the spirit of a nation suffering under the yoke of partition. Literature was a treasury of free thought, sustaining the spirit of the nation and encouraging the struggle to maintain Polishness. The space was provided by literary fiction and the personal involvement of its creators in social events. Maria Konopnicka was actively involved in this trend. Raised in a patriotic atmosphere, she was sensitive to any restriction of the country’s freedom. Her upbringing was accompanied by memories and worship of the heroic past of her father and uncle Ignacy Wasiłowski, with whom she corresponded for almost twenty years. Her love for Poland and sensitivity to the cause of her freedom run through the letters she wrote to her relative with tenderness and sincerity. They are a mine of information about the sociopolitical and cultural life of the post-Civil War era and bring invaluable information about Konopnicka’s political involvement and her commitment to the struggle for the resurrection of the nation.
PL
W II poł. XIX wieku, ogromną rolę w kształtowaniu i podtrzymywaniu ducha narodu cierpiącego pod jarzmem zaborów odgrywali pisarze i poeci. Literatura stała na straży „narodowego pamiątek kościoła”, była skarbnicą wolnej myśli, podtrzymywała ducha narodu i zagrzewała do walki o utrzymanie polskości. Przestrzenią była literatura piękna i osobiste zaangażowanie twórców w wydarzenia społeczne. W ten nurt aktywnie włączyła się Maria Konopnicka. Wychowana w patriotycznej atmosferze była wyczulona na wszelkie przejawy ograniczenia wolności kraju. Jej wzrastaniu towarzyszyło wspomnienie i kult bohaterskiej przeszłości ojca i stryja Ignacego Wasiłowskiego, z którym korespondowała przez niemal dwadzieścia lat. Miłość do Polski i wrażliwość na sprawy jej wolności przewijają się przez listy, jakie z czułością i szczerością pisała do swojego krewnego. Są one kopalnią wiadomości o życiu społeczno-polityczno-kulturalnym postyczniowej epoki i przynoszą nieocenione informacje na temat politycznego zaangażowania Konopnickiej i jej zaangażowania w trud walki o zmartwychwstanie narodu.