The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-09-25
DECLARATION OF FAITH


We believe-that even now. after all the
scorn after all the violence, after all the victories
cf the enemies Of freedom, freedom is still the
greatest of human causes.
We believe this because we believe that
freedom is the one human cause dedicated to hui
mainly. 1t is the one human cause which de-
clares that humanity is not means to an end but
is itself an end. 1t is the one human cause which
declares and which proposes to demonstrate, that
human beings. left to themselves, freed of the
authority of masters, whether of the mind or of
the soul or of the body. capable of creating
good society and humane life.
Other causes in the long history of the human
spirit have asserted that humanity is a means and
that the true end of human life is something other
than humanty-a nation, an empire, a kingdom,
either actual or ideal.
Other causes in the long history of the hu-
man spirit have asserted their belief in discipline
for the sake of discipline for the
sake of notwithstanding that the prin-
ciple of authority is higher than the human will
But men have learned in the course of their
long history that authority for the sake of
thority becomes, in practice, authority for the
sake of those who exercise authority, and that
discipline for the sake of discipline becomes, in
is demanded.
Men have learned this painfully and over
many years. They now remember it.
Seeing the rise of tyranny and despotism in
every part of the world hearing again the call
to discipline and obedience, watching again the
tactics of the preachers of authority men re-
member how painfully, and by how many strug
giles, they have escaped these lies
They remember how painfully they have
learned that the only discipline which
men can accept in dignity and honor is the dis
cipline they impose upon themselves for the sake
of their hope of freedom.
Men remember this in all nations which the
rise of tyranny and despotism now threatens or
has already overthrown.
They remember it most sharply here.
For it is here in the United States that the
cause of freedom has had its greatest victories.
And it is here that the cause of freedom has still
its highest hope.
The people OF the united StdleS nave ndu,
and still possess, the best chance any nation has
ever had of realizing the tremendous dream of
freedom.
True freedom of all men and of all women
has never vet been realized on this earth. 1t
NAV never be realized altogether. But if it is
ever to be realized, the people of the United
States. with their tradition of political respon-
sibiIity. their mastery of the skills of industry
and agriculture. their ownership of the wealth
of the richest of all lands, have better right to
hope for its realization than any other nation has
ever had.
The destruction of that hope from without,
or its surrender from Within would be an in
calculable disaster.
We who have signed this declaration of faith,
declare our purpose to oppose by every means al
our command the destruction of freedom in the
United States
We declare our belief that freedom is still
cause-still the greatest of human causes.
After all the violence, after all the victories
of the enemies of freedom, freedom is still the
cause to which we pledge our allegiance and for
which we pledge our lives.
ARCHIBALD MacLEISH,
Congressional Librarian.