By Mark Coyle BBC Scotland news website

Jack McConnell talked about the 'Scottish cringe'

Jack McConnell addressed about 100 people in a Tartan Day lecture at Princeton University, New Jersey.

He spoke extensively about John Witherspoon, the East Lothian-born preacher who became president of the College of New Jersey in 1768.

Mr McConnell said new, modern-day thinking was upon Scotland.

The period known as the Scottish Enlightenment occurred in the 18th century during which new and radical thoughts and values flowed from figures such as Adam Smith, Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott.

That entrepreneurial spirit is something we Scots had but lost along the way Jack McConnell Send us your views Read the full speech on the Scottish Executive website

"I believe passionately, as well as because reason tells me it is so, that the values of the Scottish democratic intellect can help us address the issues behind the various conflicts and of politics that confront us today," he said.

"And now, in the 21st century, there are some who think Scotland could become home to a second enlightenment."

The years of waiting for devolution to be put into practice had caused a culture of dependency to replace entrepreneurial spirit, he went on.

"Our confidence and belief in ourselves had given way to a complex picture of uncertainty and insecurity known as the 'Scottish cringe'."

Culture 'flowering'

He said that in the seven years since devolution, Scotland had changed.

"I believe there is momentum and we are on the way back up," the first minister declared.

"And the platform for that momentum is the constitutional settlement that means Scots have the power over their own affairs.

"There is a flowering of culture and enterprise and an increase in confidence."

Near the lecture venue, a statue of Scot John Witherspoon

He referred to the growth in population in Scotland, a net in-migration of 26,000 in 2004.

Last year saw the greatest number of people move to Scotland than leave since records began.

"The biggest benefit is that a mix of people and the diversity that results creates a dynamism of its own. Immigrants are creative, motivated and entrepreneurial. That rubs off on everyone else too."

Mr McConnell spoke about national identity and said that 10 to 15 years ago there was a reluctance to display the national flag.

"Some wrongly thought that flying the saltire was an expression of nationalist politics with a large P. But now, the saltire flies easily in all the places a national flag should."

He recalled being the only man at a university function wearing a kilt whereas many boys at school dances now wore Highland dress.

Research papers

Education and the sciences in Scotland were flourishing, he asserted, pointing to the statistic that with 0.1% of the world's population, the country published more than 1% of the world's research.

The arts - Scottish Ballet, the new National Theatre of Scotland and music icons such as Franz Ferdinand and KT Tunstall - were all indications of Scotland's rising confidence.

"The single thing I admire most about your country is the positive 'can do' attitude of most Americans," he told the audience of local history society members and academics, many of whom had Scottish roots.

I have to admit that at one moment during his speech with his call to come back to Scotland, I did feel a twinge of guilt Will Storrar

"That entrepreneurial spirit is something we Scots had but lost along the way.

"We can re-ignite it and I see glimmers in young Scots of it re-awakening."

Among those at the lecture was Will Storrar, who moved from the University of Edinburgh last year to become director of a research centre in Princeton.

Mr Storrar said of the first minister's words: "He understood the power of ideas to change a culture, to change the world, and I thought he related them well to the challenge today in Scotland to be that hotbed of genius that Scotland was in the 18th century.

"I have to admit that at one moment during his speech with his call to come back to Scotland, I did feel a twinge of guilt."

Karen Woodbridge, special assistant to the vice-chancellor at Princeton, who introduced Mr McConnell, added: "I think the view of many Americans is that Scotland is a progressive country and it's an up-and-coming country."