The Declaration of Arbroath

In 1320, the Scots had recently been at war with the English. The Pope had sided with the English, and had twice excommunicated the Scottish King.

The Scottish barons penned a letter to the Pope, requesting the lifting of the excommunication, and proclaiming the right to chose their own King, and to depose him if he failed them. It became known as the Declaration of Arbroath.

But after all, if the prince shall leave these principles . . . we will immediately endeavour to expel him as our enemy . . . and will make another King who will defend our liberties. For as long as there shall but one hundred of us remain alive, we shall never consent to subject ourselves . . . For it is not glory, it is not riches, neither is it honour, but it is liberty alone that we fight and contend for, which no honest man will lose but with his life.

These stirring words have been rightly seen as Scotland’s Declaration of Independence. The document refers to very specific historical events, so a few bits had to be snipped out to make it readable for Americans today.

For those of you who never quite believe what you read (and more power to you) here is the Declaration with the snippets replaced.

But after all, if the prince shall leave these principles he hath so nobly pursued, and consent that we and our kingdom  be subjected to the King or people of England, we will immediately endeavour to expel him as our enemy, and as the subverter both of his own and our rights, and will make another King who will defend our liberties. For as long as there shall but one hundred of us remain alive, we shall never consent to subject ourselves to the dominion of the English. For it is not glory, it is not riches, neither is it honour, but it is liberty alone that we fight and contend for, which no honest man will lose but with his life.

Despite the specific issues it addresses, the Declaration of Arbroath reads as a general indictment of tyranny. It stands beside the Magna Carta and the American Declaration of Independence as documents which, when fought for, brought liberty.

So why am I talking about it today? Because it speaks of removing a King who tramples the liberties of the people.

Trump is a near tyrant. He would like to be completely unrestrained, but he hasn’t quite accomplished it yet.

The Justice Department is in his pocket. The courts are not, but the Supreme Court is filled with his supporters. The Congress is no longer a check on his excesses. Tyranny is half accomplished.

Trump is not on the ballot, and the courts are not on the ballot.

Congress is.

It’s time to vote.