The Ordway new era., 1907-11-22
PRESIDENT TELLS WHY IT WAS
OMITTED FROM THE NEW
GOLD COINS.
CAUSED IRREvERENcE
WAS FOR MANY YEARS THE occA-
SION OF JEST AND RID
icuLE.

Washington.-In answer to one OF
the numerous protests which have been
received at the White house against
the new gold coins which have been
coined without the words. I'm God we
trust" President Roosevelt has written
a letter which he has made public. The
letter follows:
when the question of the new coin.
age came up we looked into the law
and found there was no warrant therein
for putting "In God we trust" on the
coins. AS was the custom, although
without legal warrant. had grown up.
however, ! might have felt at liberty
to keep the inscription had approved
of its being on the coins. But rs did
not approve Of 1t. did not direct that
1t should again be put on. or course
the matter of the law is absolutely in
the hands of Congress. and any dtrec-
tion in that direction will be immedi-
ately obeyed. At present there is no
warrant in law for the inscription.
My own feeling In the matter Is due
to my very firm conviction that to put
a motto on coins or to use 1t in any
kindred manner. not only does no good,
but does positive harm, and Is In effect
irreverence. which comes dangerously
close to sacrilege. A beautiful and SOL
emn sentence such as the one In ques-
ton should be treated and uttered only
with that fine reverence which neces-
sarily implies certain exaltation OF
spirit. Any use which tends to cheaper
1t. and above all, any use which tends
to secure its being treated in spirit
OF levity. is from every standpoint pro-
foundly to be regretted.
1T is a motto which is indeed well
L. ,utt nFn
monuments. In our temples OF justice,
in our executive halls and In buildings
as those at West Point and Annapolis.
in short. wherever 1t will tend to
arouse and inspire a lofty emotion In
those who look thereupon. But II
seems to me eminenty unwise 10
cheaper n motto by use on coins. just
as 1t would be to cheaper 1t by use ON
postage stamps. or In advertisements
As regards its use on the coinage. we
have actual experience by which to CO.
In all my life I have never heard nny
human being speak reverently OF this
motto on the coins. but have literally
hundreds of times heard 1t used as an
occasion OF. and Indictment 10 the
sneering ridicule which, 1t Is above all
things, undesirable that SO beautttui
and exalted a phrase should excite. For
example. III HIouSHout ehe iohb So1sS~~
extending over several decades on tho
free coinage question. the existence OF
this motto on the coins was con-
slant source OF Jest and ridicule: and
this was unavoidable. Everyone must
remember the innumerable cartoons
and articles based on phrases like In
God we trust for the eight cents In
God we trust for the short weight In
God we trust for the 81 cents we do
not pay etc. etc. Surely / am well
within the bounds when ! say that q
use Of the phrase which invites con-
slant levity of this character is undesir-
able. II Congress alters the laws and
directs me to replace on the coins the
sentence in question. 1t will be immedi-
a,ely put into effect; but I very ear
nestly trust that the religious sentf-
ment of the country, the spirit OF rev.
erence in the country, will prevent any
such action being taken.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"