Britons vote on paper ballots and they are counted by hand. So the results of the Sept. 18 referendum on Scottish independence are not yet fully known as I write, just past midnight Eastern Time Sept. 19. But it’s pretty clear that Scots have voted against independence and in favor of remaining in the United Kingdom.

Current results show “yes” (for independence) at 46 percent of the votes and “no” at 54 percent. Those results include Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, which voted 53 percent “yes” — not enough to turn the tide. The trend was apparent early on, as tiny (60 square miles, 35,386 votes cast) Clackmananshire, considered certain “yes” country, voted 54 percent “no.”