Evening star., 1937-02-14
BY ETHEL BOILEAN.

CCOTTISH nationalism? Why?
Many will ask, why. indeed?"
-dismissing the idea as a
- cranky illusion. For, in their
opinion, Scottish nationalists have q
bee in their bonnets which buzzes too
loudly to make sense. 1t Is the aim
Of this article to present the case with
the objectivity of one not Of the party.
Internationalism Is a creed which
has seized upon the imagination Of
many people today. Nationansm has
become suspect. One aspect of ma
tionalism today is spreading like a
flame-or an infectious diSease-over
the face of Europe. Closed frontiers
overbearing national arrogance-a
bellicose attitude toward the rest Of
the world With their tongues those
in authority pay np-service to the
ideals Of peace-but in our imagina-
tions we hear the beat Of drums call
ing to war.
In Britain's internal politics, Irish
| nationalism Is still a living memory
A nationalism based on hatred and
the memory Of past wrongs-a ma
tionaliSm whose roots were founded
on separation and isolation.
Ultimate effect.
Faced with these evidences Of strife
creed which teaches men to be world
citizens and advocates the breaking
down of national barriers. An at
tractive ideal! But have those who
believe in it considered its ultimate
effect? If you destroy national char
acteristics you destroy something
fundamentally vital and significant,
for the strength Of humanity lies in
its rich variety of type. Genius, vigor
and intelligence are not produced by
a world uniformity, or by suppression
Of strongly differentiated individual
characteristics.
A national ethos is as imperative as
bread. The advantage of world Or
der, where (men being what they are)
the strongest and most economically
organized races would undoubtedly ex-
ercise both economic and cultural
hegemony over their weaker neigh
bors, is a doubtful exchange for q
nations soul.
This belief is the basis of the Scot
tish nationalist movement. It Is also
my own. am not-as yet-a member
OF the party. My interest in the move
ment therefore is not that of an
avowed partisan, but of an interested
(and expatriate) observer. This should
acquit me Of any specific prejudice.
What does the Scottish national
movement stand for? And what are
the root causes of its dissatisfaction
with the status quo?
Had Own Laws.
It is so long since Scottish Parlia-
ment sat in Edinburgh that men have
forgotten that when James VI of Scot
land crossed the border to become
James I of England he left behind
him kingdom with its own laws, and
Parliament with full powers of self
government. It was not until 1707
that, during the reign of the last
Stuart Queen, the Scottish ministers
wrote their names to the document
which removed the seat of govern
ment from Edinburgh to London
brought the Scottish members to West
minister, and so made an end of an
old song"
This union was the work of the
"Queensberry ministry - and was
against the will of the Scottish people.
Its terms were received with every
evidence of dissatisfaction. Popular
feeling ran high and the last parlia-
mentary session held in Edinburgh
was preceded by violent agitations
against the proposed union. The
wishes and sentiments of the people
were in direct opposition to those of
the opportunist ministers, with their
eyes cooked on southern flesh-pots!
The measure was finally carried by
10 to 69-the Scottish members took
the road south-a road which was
presently to become a highway for
Scottish brogues. Edinburgh found
itself reduced from a capital to pro-
vincial city-and Scotland to an ex-
porting house for British administra-
tors, soldiers, sailors, colonists and
politicians.
The union of Parliament may have
been justified by eighteenth century
conditions. A journey between London
and Edinburgh was not an affair of
night in the train, but q not over
comfortable adventure. Roads in the
Winter were often impossible, and
rapid communication between one
capital and another was an impos-
sibility.
Scotland 'LoA Her Soul"
Capitalization Of the seat Of gov
eminent may have appeared to men
who saw far-but not far enough
an essential factor for efficient admin
istration, and closer intercourse with
q richer and more prosperous country
offered certain immediate material
advantages which caused men to for
get the spirit and think only Of the
substance. BY the absorption Of the
Scottish Parliament by the English,
not only did Edinburgh lose her status
as q capital city, but Scotsmen lost
their control over purely national
affairs. scotsnen may haye gained
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