The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-11-21
WHY THE MOTTO
WAS LEFT Off
President Roosevelt Considered II
sSacrlIeg ous.
LED TO IRREvERENT COMMENTS.
Writes Letter Defendinr His Order Di-
recting That the Phrase '1n God We
Trust" Be Omitted In the Coming Of
the New Gold Pieces--will Keep 1t on
Unless Congre' 8 Directs Otherwise.


Washington Especially Tn God
We Trust will not be upon any
United States coin designated in the
future, IL the President can prevent
the use of tiiat motto. He has writ
ten vigorous letter on the subject,
copies of which are now being mail
ed to all correspondents who have
sent him protests against the absence
of the words on the new gold pieces.
In order to make his position on the
subjects perfectly plain to all, the
following letter written by the Presi-
dent, was given out.
When the question OF the new
coinage came up we looked into the
law and found there was no warrant
therein f.; putting In God We
Trust ON the coins. AS 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 coin
age. But as / did not approve of It,
did not direct that IL should again
be put on. OF course the matter of
the law is absolutely in the hands of
Congress and any direction of Con-
gress in the matter will be immedi-
ately obeyed. At present as | have
said 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 such motto on coins, or to
use IL any kindred manner, not only
does no good but does positive harm,
and Is in effect irreverence. which
comes dangerously close to sacrilege.
A beaHtiful and solemn sentence such
as the one in question should be
treated and uttered only with that
fine reverence which necessarily i'm
plies a certain exaltation of spirit.
Any use which tends to cheaper II,
and above all, any use which tends
to secure its being treated in a spirit
of levity, is from every standpoint
profoundly to be regretted. It is
motto which IL is indeed we'll to have
Inscribed on our great national
monuments, in our temples of JUS
tice, in our legislative halls and in
buildings such as those at West Point
and Annapolis--in short wherever II
will tend to arouse and inspire a
lefty emotion In those who look
thereon. But it seems to me emil
nently unwise to cheaper such
motto by use on coins, Just as it
would be to cheaper It by use on
postage stamps, or in advertisements.
AS regards its use on the coinage,
we have actual experience by which
to go. l have never heard any hum
an being speak reverently of this
motto on the coins. or show any signs
OF its having appealed to any high
emotion in him, but have literally
of times heard 1t used as
an occasion of and incitement to the
sneering ridicule which il is above
all things undesirable that so beauti-
ful and exalted phrase should ex-
cite. For example, throughout the
long contest extending over several
decades on the free coinage question
the existence of this motto on the
coins was a constant source of Jest
and ridicule, and this WIS unavoid-
able. 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" I'm
God we trust for the 81 cents we
DO not pay" etc. etc. Surely am
we'll within bounds when | say that
a use of the phrase which invites
levity of this type is most
undesirable. If Congress alters the
law and directs me to replace on the
coins the sentence in question, the
direction will be Immediately put in
10 effect But | very earnestly trust
hat the religious sentiment of the
the spirit OF reverence in
The country, will prevent any such
action being taken.
(Signed)
THEOnORN ROOSnXIrI u,