A SCOTTISH PROTEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11852, 2 January 1902, Page 6

A SCOTTISH PROTEST.

McsT of our. readers have heard of • Mr. Theodore Napier, Who may ;be styled the last of the Jacobites, and who is always ready to vindicate the rights .of Scotland. Just before the proclamation of the King's title, at the cross of Edinburgh, he sent the following letter to ', the Lord Lyon King of Arms, and : has sent a copy to us with ; a request that it should be published-in New Zealand: —." ... ... " Balmanno, 7, West Castle Road, Edin- ': burgh, November. 8, 1901. I The Lord Lyon ; : King of Arms :': Sir, —As a Scotsman who deeply loves his country," and whose main object in life is to advocate and defend its national rights and honour, 1 feel that, in duty bound, I•: cannot but approach you and. most respectfully beseech you, in the name, and for the sake of our fatherland, that you will not commit yourself to morrow, in proclaiming ihe present occupant of the - Throne by . the title of - ' Edward the Seventh, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and. Ireland, etc., King.' You know perfectly .'well that that is .an incorrect and misleading title: you know that he is the first Edward who , has reigned over ' Great .Britain.' You know; well that to acknowledge him as ■..' Edward VII. of Great Brit- _ ain' " directly . implies 1 that all the previous : six Edward? of England were, de jure, kings likewise of ' Great Britain'that is, of Scotland as : well as of England; and, moreover, to acknowledge Edward I. of England (alias ' Lpngshanks') as the first King of Great Britain—consequently of Scotland as well. You know that by doing this, you will bo falsifying British history and denying the legal status of all our Scottish kings .and queens, from .the days of .Bruce till the union of. the Crowns, by classifying them as vassals of the English kings; and by branding our noble champions in the War of Independence, viz., Wallace, Bruce, Douglas, Graham and their followers, as mere rebels, deserving of ihe fate of the first-mentioned hero. . "Are you prepared to tear up and throw away,the records of the heroic struggles of our valiant ancestors for national freedom, ; by thus stamping their kings .as vassals of England—which you will be doing by pro- :. claiming the present Edward as the Seventh : of Great Britain 'i ' All Scotland looks to you, sir; and surely you will not betray the sacred trust ',--. confided t«\ you. Your gallant predecessor, . Sir David Lindsay, of: the Mount, would . 1 aot > have hesitated one moment at such; a r.crisis as.this;" and I sincerely trust,, for She : sake of Scotland and Scotland's honour, that .you i. will refuse . (even although . such refusal ■>>;! should entail martyrdom) to proclaim a false J-5;-- and f spurious title at'; the : Mercat Cross of : : Edinburgh , to-morrow, and thus save Scotland * from 'the i degradation -that is threat- ' ened to be *. cast upon ; her national history and position in the.United Kingdom. -•: . "Knowing that you are a' gentleman of honour, I have confidence , in thus ; pleading with : you • before the final stop is taken that shall s pronounce doom on Scotland's J past - history. ■■■■■ ■.■".' I am, sir, • . "Your obedient servant, "Thecdobb Nai'ii:e." H;Syt@yV:3f»: ; ';---; : ,; : ->'- :.:Xfr- '-'"'.. - . '..■■':■ '--'■-.■.•-