The state herald., 1907-11-22
NO WARRANT
FOR The MOTTO
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.-ln 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, 'In God we
trust" President Roosevelt has written
IA 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 tho
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 as ! did
not approve of It, ] did not direct that
1t should again be put on. OF course
the matter of the law is absolutely In
the hands of Congress, and any direc-
tion in that direction will be immedi-
ately obeyed. At present there ia 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 II in any
kindred manner, not only does no good,
but does positive harm, and is In effect
close to sacrilege. 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 us. which tends to cheaper
it. and above all, any use which tends
10 secure its being treated In spirit
OF levity. is from every standpoint pro
foundly to be regretted.
1T is n motto which is indeed well
TO have inscribed ON our great national
monuments, In our temples of justice.
in our executive halls and In buildings
as those at West Point and Annapolis.
in short. wherever II will tend to
arouse and inspire n lofty emotion In
those who look thercupon. But IL
seems 10 me eminently unwise 10
cheaper motto by use on coins. just
MS II would be TO cheaper II by use on
postage stamps. or In advertisements.
As regards It's use on the coinage. we
have actual experience by which TO go.
In all my life | have never heard any
human being speak reyercntly OF this
motto on the coins, but have literally
hundreds OF times heard II used as an
occasion OF, and Indictment to tho
sneerlng ridiculc which. II IL above all
things. undesirable that so beautiful
and exalted phrase should excite. For
example, throughout the long contest
extending over several decades on tho
free coinage question. the existence OF
this motto on the coins was CON
stnnt 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 | nm well
within the bounds when | say that n
use OF the phrase which invites con
slant leyity Of this character IL undcsir-
abio. II Congress alters the laws aud
directs me 10 replace on the coins tho
sentence In question. II will be immedi-
ately put into eiieot. but ! very ear
nestly trust that the religious senti-
mont of the country. the spirit OF rev
erence In the country. will prevent any
such action being taken,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"