The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1888. HOME RULE FOR SCOTLAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1836, 9 May 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1888. HOME RULE FOR SCOTLAND.

Scottish' Parliament- that the Laws enacted by them have stood so well the test of time. The system of Law which Scotland has reared is the admiration of the Jurists of Europe. Modern requirements, however, call for the enactment of new laws and hero it is that the t neglect of Scottish business tells most seriously upon the the prosperity of the country." In short, through several pages, the same sentiments prevail, bcotland seems to have suffered great injustice at the hand of the English Government. ■ The Association declares that the movement is not one of to-day, but has been going on ever since the Union was formed, and there has always existed a band of patriotic Scotsmen, who look forward with impatience to the time when Scotland will be the ruler of its own people. The evils under which Scotland is said to labor by being joined to England-are enumerated as follows : — 1. Legislative neglect. 2. Unjust taxa tion, draining the resources of the country. 3. Unfair distribution and expenditure of the National and Imperial Revenues. 4. The perpetua 1 ion of strife among our Churches. 5. Usurpation of English Courts over domiciled Scotchmen and Scottish Successions. 6. The appeal to the House of Lords a means of oppressing poor Scottish litigants, and altering the Laws of Scotland to suit English opinion. 7. Genera neglect of the Fishing and Mining Industries. 8. Grave defects m the Land Laws. 9, The closing of the old paths, and other means of innocent recreation. 10. 'I he expatriation of native talent, 11. The deterioration of our Parliamentary representation. 12. Annoyance and expense arising from the administration of Scottish business m London. The only cure for these evils is separation or Home Rule. The pamphlet is interesting reading all through, and the case is put very clearly, but as yet, we do not see that there is very much m the statements advanced. A calm consideration of the question will show that the element of discontent at Union, is not wide reaching among even the poorer classes of Scotland. Ireland seems more entitled to Home Rule, and certainly we should say, one at a time. Ireland has more cause for agitation than Scotland, and even the risings and agitations m the north of the latter country may be quietened and subdued without putting the populace m defiance of the Land Lawß of the united countries. We are not prepared to say that none of the evils complained of by the advocates „ for Home Rule m Scotland are m existence. There are evils of a greater or lesser character m every community, and Scotland is none the freer of them than any other Government. We believe that the disunion of h ngland and Scotland would be followed by greater complications than at first might be expected.

The Scottish Home Rule Association, under the presidency of the most noble the Marquis of Breadalbane has issued a pamphlet entitled " A Statement of Scotland's claim for Home Eule." The Association desires that wide publicity should be given to its efforts to promote the good Government of Scotland by the introduction of Home Eule. They wish to appeal to their countrymen m the colonies for assistance m securing the political freedom of the Mother Country. The simple fact is they want money, without which of course the movement would languish. The Association translates Home Rule as meaning shortly " the right of the Scottish people to manage their own affairs." The Association says that the statement often made that the benefits which have fallen to Scotland, m conseauence of the union m 1 707 m an utter iaflaoy." " What Scotland desired was a Federal, not an Incorporating Union. The Incorporating Union has been productive of untold evils to the smaller nation. The Union was carried through by the most shameful corruption, against the remonstrances of the Scottish Nation, the open hostility of the citizens of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and of a large section of the people m other districts of the Kingdom. Scotland entered the Union without a penny of debt upon her National resources. To-day she is a joint obligant m an enormous debt of nearly seven hundred and forty million pounds sterling, mainly caused by the French war, fighting the enemy of England, not Scotland — for the Scots were always a peaceful people, at war with no country but England, and that only m self-defence. Prior to the Union we had free trade, free imports, and free exports. The cottar then enjoyed his mug of homo-brewed ale, and the artizan his cup of claret, free of duty. Frcetrade was abolished, and heavy fiscal and excise duties wero imposed, not only on all imports but also on exports. 3he Uniou was tho main cause of two Bebellions m 1715 and 1745 ; after each of which some of ths beat blood of Scotland was shed upon the scaffold. The Capital of Scotland was well nigh ruined, and grass grew upon her streeis. Scotland was drained of her best blood and of her treasure. To such a state of poverty did the country sink, that estates were purchased for less than the annual rental of tho present day. Tho aristocracy and landed gentry became to a large extent nonresident, and this evil has increased every year. The Union brought Secessions and Disruption upon the National Church, which, then the Church of nearly the whole people and m the van of freedom, has been rent into three divisions, producing bitterness and strife which have not yet been allayed. This was produced by the Act restoring Lay Patronage m the reign of Queen Anne, which was passed through Parliament against the desires of the whole Scottish Members. To what pause then is duo the material prosperity of Scotland ? Our national prosperity is duo to the mineral wealth of the country, the inventive genius of her sons, and the riso of the middle class. Modern mechanics as well as political economy, sprang into existence^ Scotland, and she m common with the rest of modern Europe shared m the prosperity of this century, It is the energy of the middle class, however, of which our nation is largely composed, that has [created such great industrial centres as Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen. Had Scotland's industries been mostly agricultural, like those of Ireland tho result would have been the same as m that country, or as it exists m a porj tion of; the Highlands m Scotland at the ' present time. What is tho position of Scotland now ? The fears which our ancestors entertained have proved only too well founded. Our National Insti- | tutions have been assailed by those who j knew little and cared loss about the national sentiment of our people. In England our Scottish Courts have been treated as non-existent, tho jurisdiction of our Supreme Court has been set at naught, and m defiance of the Treaty of Union, Scotsmen are now compelled to appear m English Courts, if served with an English Writ while casually m England. The estates of deceased Scotchmen are dragged into Qhancery, if, perchance, any small portion of them, is situated m England. The Appeal to the House of Lords is not only a means of oppression to poor Scottish litigants, but the English Law Lords often decide according to English opinion and m I ignorance of Scottish Laws. It is the [ highest compliment to tho wisdom of our i