The Washington times., 1907-11-13

ON COINS IS
A SACRILEGE
President Roosevelt
SAYS '1n God We Trust
Should Not Be Placed
On Coins.
issues Statement, Giving
His Reason for Asking
Its Removal

In God We Trust viii not be upon
any United States coin designed in the
fui ure. If the President can prevent the
use Of that motto. he mas written a
vigorous letter on the subject copies
OF which are oeing mailed 10 all cor
respondents who have sent him protests
Or the absence OF the words on the new
gold pieces.
IN order TO make his position on the
subject perfectly plain TO all the people,
Secretary Loeb today gave cut copies
of the Letter, which Is, in part. as fol-
lows:
Dear Sir: When the question of the
new coinage came up We Iookt into
the Law and found there was no war
rant therein for putting IT God We
Trust on the coins. as the custom,
ulshO without legal warrant, mad grown
VI. however, l -aIght nave feIt al liberty
II keep The inscription had I approved
Of its being on the coinage. But as /
did not approve OF IL, / 0id not direct
that it should again be PUT on
Does Positive Harm.
My own feeling IN the matter is due
to my very firm conviction that to put
eny kindred manner, not only does no
good, but does positive harm, and Is
in effect irTeverence which comes
dangerously near TO sacriIege. A beau
tiful and solemn sentence. such as the
one IN question. should De treated and
uttered only with that fine reverence
which necessarily implies a certain ex-
altation Of spirit. Any use which tends
which tends 10 secure its being treated
in a spirit of levity is, from every stand
point. profoundly to be regretted.
1T Is a motto which it is indeed well
20 have inscribed on our great national
monuments, in our temples OF justice,
in our legislative halls. and in buildings
such as those at West Point and An
napolis-in short, wherever Il will tend
10 arouse and inspire a lofty emotion in
those who look thereon. But II seems
10 me eminenIy unwise to cheaper such
motto by use on coins juss as IL would
be to cheaper it by use on postage
stamps or in advertisements.
Inscription Ridiculed.
In all my lie have never heard any
human being speak reverentIv of this
motto on the coins, CT show any sign
u 4tS having dPpedleQ 10 any nigh emo
tion in him. But I have literally hun
dreds Of times heard it used as an oc-
casion Of, and incitemenU 20. the snoer-
ing ridicule which it is above all things
undesirable that so beautiful and ex-
alted phrase should excite.
For example, throughout the long
contest extending over several decades.
Of the free coinage question, the exist
euce Of this motto on the coins was 4
constant source of Jest and ridlcfIie.
and this was unavoidable Every one
must remember the innumerabie car
tOons and articles based on phrases like
IN God we trust, for the other 5 cents.'
In God we trust for the short weight
IN God We trust for the 81 cents we
do not pay and so forth, and so forth
Surely 1 am well within bounds when
7 say that use OF the phrase which in
vites constant 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 into
effect; but I very earnestly trust that
the religious sentiment Of the country.
the spirit of reverence in the country.
will prevent any such action being
taken. Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"