The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-11-21
"In God We Trust. :"
Authority in Law for Use Of the
Motto on Our Coins Which Presi-
dent Roosevelt Seems to Have
Overlooked.
Raleigh Evening Times, 14th.

Raleigh Evening Times, 14th.
The Evening Times printed yester-
day, u few hours after the President
issued it. a statement from Mr.. Roose-
velt explaining his connection with
the omission of the motto '1n God
We Trust" from some newly issued
st. Gaudens coins.
In addition TO the reasons given
by the President, through which it is
seen his motives were the opposite OF
what many had construed them to
be-there is something of interest to
he said.
In the first place, despite the Presi-
dent s statement ''we looked into the
law and found there was no warrant
therein for putting In God We Trust
on the cOins," there seems to be au-
thOrity which was overlooked.
Section 5, Chapter c, Laws OF the
United States Relating to Coinage,
reads: at shall be lawful for the d.
rector of the mint, with the approval
of the secretary of the treasury to
cause the motto; In God We Trust
to be placed on such coins hereafter
to be issued as shall admit of such
legend thereon" This was approved
March 3, 1895, and there is no rec
ord of it's repeal or amendment.
Before Mr.. ROosevelt's statement
was printed a correspondent wrote
as follows:
''It seems the burden of omission
rests upon our President If he has
and the late st. Gaudens had lost
their faith in the motto, | believe the
great mass of Americans have not.
While many OF us do not get the gold
coins, the fact that the motto is still
on them is comforting satisfaction.
To continue the-omission is a great
mistake and like taking the keystone
out of the arch of our past and fu-
ture greatness. l hope may arouse
in this humble way the people who
still trust in God to such an extent
that President and press will be
deluged with communications that
will put again on our coins the old
and familiar motto In God We
Trust.'"
The impression entertained by this
correspondent in regard to the mot
to 'In God We Trust" found on
some varieties of United States coins,
is one that seems to prevail widely.
At a meeting Of ministers in New
IOrK last Monday protests were
made against the abandonment OF
the "time-honored motto," and one
minister said sit looked as though
the country were forgetting God"
1t is therefore worth while to state
the actual facts, which are altogether
at variance with that impression.
The 'arch OF our past greatness" in
point of fact, was wholly without
the support OF this keystone until
the latter part OF the Civil War.
The first appearance OF the motto
'.In God We Trust on any United
States coin was made in 1864, and
constituted the first Use OF the word
God in any Government act. 1t was
introduced by James Pollock, an
Ex-Governor of Pennsylvania, direc.
| tor of the mint, with the approval OF
S. p. Chase, then secretary of the
treasury.
1t appeared on the 1866 issue ol
the double eagle, eagle, half eagle
silver dollar, half dollar, and nickel
five-cent piece, in lieu OF the long ex-
isting motto "E Pluribus Unum." In
the revision of the mintage laws
under the act of 1873 it was
provided, among other things, that
the director of the mint, with the ap.
proval of the secretary of the treas.
ury, might cause the motto 'In God
We Trust" to be inscribed on such
coins as should admit of such motto,
AS matter Of fact, the motto ap.
pears on some of the coins, and not
on others, and apparently nobody
has missed it on the coins from watch
| it is absent.
AS to the Presidents attitude, it is
shown by his statement that his
motives cannot be successfully at
| tackled.
1t is certainly curious to note that
while the first use of the motto was
made under President Lincoln, who
never subscribed to, any formulated
creed, this criticism is being passed
upon President Roosevelt, who is q
member of the old-fashioned Dutcl
Reformed Church.
| We all trust in God" as much al
ever, nevertheless-and probably /
little more SO.
That SO many of us stood ready tt
put up fight when the impression
became current that we do not trus
in Him, is the best kind OF evidenc
to that effect.
And, moreover, this country is
"Christian nation," too, howeve
much some may attempt to deny ii
or to prove that it literally is no,
| And the South is the strongest cham
pion ''In His name" on the continen
and would be the quickest to asser
its religion if brought to the test.