[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 35 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S2564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               PASSAGE OF NATIONAL TARTAN DAY RESOLUTION

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today, I rise to personally commend Senator 
Hatch, my colleague and friend, for his leadership in helping obtain 
the passage of the National Tartan Day Resolution.
  Last week, the Senate passed the resolution by unanimous consent. 
This was no easy task and I want to acknowledge his efforts to ensure 
that the contributions of Americans of Scottish ancestry are 
recognized. I, along with many other Scottish-Americans, were very 
pleased with the passage of this legislation.
  I also want to thank the national and state associations which 
represent citizens of Scottish ancestry for their efforts to get the 
word out. They made sure that the members of the Senate were fully 
informed on the merits of this legislative initiative. They were active 
in obtaining cosponsors. They certainly made a difference in the 
legislative success of Senate Resolution 155.
  Mr. President, Scottish Americans have made many great contributions 
to our country. They work in many different fields and professions. 
They add to the very essence of what is known across the globe as the 
American character. Let me name a few of the more prominent Scottish-
Americans: Neil Armstrong, Alexander Graham Bell, Andrew Carnegie, 
William Faulkner, Malcolm Forbes and Elizabeth Taylor, just to name a 
few. Today many Americans of Scottish ancestry continue to make an 
impact.
  Mr. President, National Tartan Day is more than a recognition of 
Americans with Scottish ancestry. National Tartan Day is about liberty. 
It is about the demand of citizens for their freedom from an oppressive 
government. Freedom is the significance of April 6th. On this day 
nearly seven hundred years ago, a group of men in Arbroath, Scotland 
asserted their independence from the English king. These Scots declared 
``We fight for liberty alone.'' These are powerful words that should 
not be forgotten today or in the future.
  These were daring words. These Scotsmen were claiming liberty as 
their birthright. These were enduring words, like the mountains, hills 
and stones of Scotland. These words still ring true.
  The words and thoughts of those long-ago Scottish patriots live on in 
America. Liberty has been good to their descendants in the United 
States.
  Beyond all the accomplishments of Scottish-Americans are those words 
of strength, courage and perseverance: ``We fight for liberty alone, 
which no good man loses but with his life.''
  By honoring April 6, Americans will annually celebrate the true 
beginning of the quest for liberty and freedom.
  Mr. President, I want to thank my colleagues who joined me in 
supporting this resolution; so that we may never forget, so that the 
world, in some small way, may never forget, far-away, long-ago Arbroath 
and the declaration for liberty.

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