The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-14
USE OF MOTTO is
NEAR .SACR,LEGE
President Writes ST Johns
Ncstry and Others as tc,
Y Coin Motto.
(: FRANKLY DIsApPR0VEs
Times Dispatch Bureau,
Munsey BUILDING


Washington =. ..4sSss ~.
J Tic vcstss oe st. Johns Church.
If,iciimond, will receiyc a letter from
tIie President, III 1t las not already
come to hand. in reply TO the protest
adopted by that body against the elinii-
nation OF the motto. lin God We
Trust" from the new $40 gold pieces.
The President Will not restore the
legend to the coinage He declares
that Its use in that connection Is dan
gerousIy near To sarrsleaen whereas
~ should be treated and uttered With
that reverence which implies an cx
h!tation of spirit. Should Congress di-
rect that the sentence appear on the
coins the President says he would COM
PLY. which he would do as n matter of
course; but he hopes the religious
sentiment OF the country Will cooper
inte with. those who want II eliminated.
TWO striking sentences OF the letter
are these.
4 |. might have felt ut liberty to keep
the inscription had Approved of its
Icing OIL the coinage
But ash did not approve of It. did
not direct that 1t should again be
put on
Secretary Loeb gave out To-day a
copy OF the letter which will be sent
to all those who have protested to the
the legend.
when the question OF tho new coinage
came UP we looked into the law and found
there was no warrnn. therein for putting
custom. although withuut legal warrant
had grown up, however might have felt
at liberty to keep The inscription had ap
proved OF It being on the coinage. Rut as
did not approve OF 1t. did not direct that
II Should again be put on. or course the
matter OF The law Is absolutely In the hands
and 80 an 49,
In the matter Will be inimed lately obcyad
AZ Present. as ] have sa!d. there Is no war
rant In law for tho Inscription. My own
feeling IN thu matter is due TO my very firm
conviction that TO put such a motto on
coins. or TO use 1t in any. kindred manner.
not only does no good. but does positive
harm, and Ia m effect irreyerencc. which
Genes dangerously close to sacriege a
beautiful and solemn sentence. such as the
enc IN question. should be treated and ut
tered only with that fine reverence which
necessarily implies Il certain eSaltation of
sl1i'. Any uso which tends TO che1pcn
H.. and above all any use which tends "a.
secure 1t being treated In spirit OF ievi,y,
IL. from every standpoint, profoundly to be
regretted. 1t Ia Il motto which, ii is indeed
well TO have Inscribed our grea, national
monuments. In our temples d c Justice In our
legislative hall. and In buildings. such q.
ffose At West Point and Annapolis; IN
short, where II Will tend TO arouse and In >
srtre lofty emotion In those who LOOK
thereon. Blu, II seeing cminentfy unwIsc T.,
cheapen such n motto by use coins. just
~ NpNIi We 10 Cne1pen II ny ugG OIL post
nEc stamps, IN advertisements AS ro-
sbtds Its use on the coinage we have actual
experience by which II 30. In all my life
have never heard any human being speak
roNerently OF this motto the coins or
slow any signs of its having appealed to
any high emotion in him. but have liter
ally hundreds OF times heard IL used as IN
occasion Of. and Indictment to, the sneerin :
r!Glcule which IL IL above all things unda-
Fitable that beautiful ana exalted II
phrase should excite
For example, throughout the long con-
test extending over several decades, on tho
free coinage question: the existence OF thr
motto on she coins was constant SQUIRE
o. Jest and ridIcule; and this was iunavoia-
able. Every one must remember the tn
Vulnerable cartoons and articles based on
phrases like in God we trust for the eight
Cents In God trust for the short
weight. In God we trust for the thirty
seven cents We, do not pay and 30 forth
and so forth. Surely l am well within
tcurds when say that a use of the phrase
which invites constant, eyity OF this type
Is most undesirable. II Congress alters the
law and directs me to replace on the coins
the sentence In question, the direction VIII
be Immediately put into effect, but I very
earnestly trust that the religious sentiment
lor the country, the spirit OF reverence In
the country Will prevent any such action
tslgned, THEODORE ROOSEVELT"