no GALICIA
create a Triple Monarchy' in which Galicia would enjoy the same equal and fed-
eral status as Austria and Hungary. The political struggle lasted for more than
a decade, and ended with a compromise acceptable to both protagonists. The
Emperor's initial concessions to the Autonomists' more limited demands in the
institutional sphere were matched by further concessions to the Federalists'
more radical demands in the sphere of Polish culture and education. The first
step, in 1861, was taken in the wake of the disastrous war in Italy with Piemont
and other Italian states. Gohichowski's own scheme for 'devolution' as embod-
ied in the October Diploma was amended by his successor as President of the
Council of Ministers, Antoni Schmerling; but the Emperor's February Patent of
1861, which finally established a constitutional system for Austria, also made
provision for Galicia's separate legal and administrative institutions. The sec-
ond step was taken during the crisis provoked by the defeat at Koniggratz. In
December 1866, a motion in the Galician assembly requesting implementation
of the proposals for Autonomy was accompanied by a loyal address to the
Emperor: 'We stand beside Thee, most Gracious Lord, and so we wish to stand'.
Loyalty was duly rewarded. In the Emperor's 'Fundamental Law' of 21
December 1867, granting the governmental changes which accompanied the
Ausgleich, Galicia was not forgotten. Both the elective legislature, the Sejm
Krajowy, and the provincial executive body, the Wydziat Krajowy, were
retained. But the Federalists were still not satisfied. Smarting under the disap-
pointment that Galicia had received fewer powers than Hungary, they passed a
resolution in 1868 demanding further reforms. Demonstrations occurred in
Lemberg, and the government felt obliged to give way. In 1869, the Polish lan-
guage, which had recently been admitted to schools and courts, replaced
German in all official business; in 1870, the Jagiellonian University was empow-
ered to reinstate Polish as the principal language of instruction; in 1871, a
Ministry of Galician Affairs was created in Vienna to uphold the interests of the
Kingdom with the imperial government; and in 1872., the Akademia
Umiejetnosci (Academy of Learning) was launched in Cracow under the patron-
age of the imperial family. By these measures, Galicia was given the means
whereby the cadres of the new, autonomous administration could be staffed by
well-educated native candidates.
The government of Galicia, as organized between 1867 and 1918, showed a
curious mixture of centralized, and devolved bodies. The Viceroy, whose role
superseded that of the former Governors, was appointed directly by the
Emperor, and from his residence in Lemberg directed the work of the executive
branch. Together with the Deputy Viceroy in Cracow, he controlled the
Starostas of the 79 administrative districts (Bezirke/powiat) and beneath them,
the village mandataries. His competence stopped short of the Army, the Posts
and Telegraphs, the state railways, the Crown Domain, and the state forests,
which were run directly from Vienna. The legislature, the Sejm Krajowy, was
elected an on the basis of an elaborate system of 'curias' or electoral colleges.
Apart from thirteen ex officio deputies drawn from the Bishops, the university