The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-14
CALLS IT SACRILEGE
ROOSEVELT IS OPPOSED TO LE-
 GEND ON COINS.
The President Says the Words, In God We Trust" is Too Sacred to Be Used on Our
 Money.

Washington, Nov. 13.-In answer to one of the numerous protests that have been received at the White House. against the new gold ceins which have been coined without the words. 'In God We Trust" President Roosevelt has written a letter, which he today made public. The letter follows:
 When the question of tho new coin came up, we looked into the law and found there was no warrant therein for putting In God We Trust on the coins. As the custom, although without legal warrant, had grown up. however, l might have felt at liberty to keep the inscription, had l approved of It's be- ing on the coinage. But as did not approve of it, did not direct that it should again be put on. Of course, the matter of the law is absolutely in the hands of Congress and any direction of Congress in the matter, will be im- mediately obeyed. At present. as l have said, there is no warrant In the law for the inscription.
 My own feeling In the 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 is in effect irreverence, which comes dari- gerously nearly to sacrilege. A beau tiful and solemn sentence such as the one in question, should be treated and uttered only with that fine reverence which necessarily implies certain ex- altation of spirit. Any use which tends to cheapen 1t. and, above all, any use which tends to secure it's being treated in q spirit of levity, is, from every standpoint. profoundly to be re- gretted.
 'It's a motto which t ia wessiue1Fihed on our great national monuments. in our temples of justice. in our legisla- tive halls, and in buildings such as those at West Point and Annapolis--in short, wherever it will tend to arouse and inspire a lofty emotion In those who look thereon. But it seems to me .sss s!ss ..Es4zise ta chaan nan such motto by using 1t on coins, just as 1t would be to cheapen 1t by use on post age stamps, or in advertisements. As regards it's use on coinage. we have actual experience by which to go. In all my life, have never heard any human being speak reverently of this motto on the coins, or show any signs of it's having appealed to any high emotion in him. but have literally hundreds of times heard 1t used as an occasion of. and incident to the sneer- ing ridicule which 1t is above all things undesirable that so exalted a phrase AICAlCs
 For example, throughout the long contest extending over several decades on the free coinage question, the exist ence of this motto on the coins was constant source of jest and ridicule, and this was unavoidable. Every one must remember the innumerable cartoons and articles based on phrases like Tn God We Trust for the eight cents;' Tn God We Trust for the Short Weights;' Tn God We Trust for the 37 Cents We Do Not Pay" and so on, and so forth. Surely, am well in bounds when I say that use of the phrase which invites constant levity of this type is most undesirable.
 "If Congress allows the law and directs me to replace on the coins the sentence in question, the direction will be immediately put into effect. But very earnestly trust that the religious sentiment of the country, the spirit of reverence in the country, will prevent any such action being taken.
 (Signed) Theodore Roosevelt.