The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-11-22
in God. We TRUST
President Roosevelt Explains Why
the Motto Was Left off the
New Gold Coins.
IN ANSWER TO PROTESTS
Finds No Warrant In Law for the
Practice and Believes Use
Dangerously Near to
Sacrilcge.

Washington, Nov. 14.-In answer to
one of the numerous protests which
have been received at the White
house against the new gold coins
which have been coined without the
words, "In God We Trust" President
Roosevelt has written a letter which
he Wednesday made public. The let
ter follows:
when the question of the new
coinage 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 ap'
proved of it being on the coinage. But
as | did not approve of it, l did not
direct that it should again be put on.
OF course the matter of law is abso-
lutely in the hands of congress and
any direction of congress in the mat
ter will be Immediately 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
Uut such a motto on coins, or to use
it in any kindred manner, not only
does no good but does positive harm,
and in it's effect irreverence, which
comes dangerously close to sacrilege.
beautiful and solemn sentence such
as the one in question should be
treated and uttered only with that
fine reverence which necessarily i'm
niles a certain eXaltation of spirit.
Any use which tends to cheaper it,
and above all, any use which tends
TO secure its being treated in spirit
of levity, is from every standpoint
profoundly to be regretted. 1t is
motto which it is indeed well to have
inscribed on our great national mon
uments, in our temples of justice, in
our legislative halls, and in buildings
such of those at West Point and An
napolis-in short, wherever it will
emotion in those who look thereon,
But it seems to me eminently unwiSe
TO cheaper such a motto by use on
coins, just as it would be to cheaper
itsby use on postage stamps, or in ad-
vertisements. AS regards its use on
the coinage we have actual expert
cnce by which to go. In all my life
| have never heard any human being
speak reverently of this motto on Che
coins or show any signs of it's having
appealed to any higher sense in him,
hut / have literally hundreds of times
heard it used as an occasion of, and
Indictment to the sneering ridicule
which it is above all things undesira-
lie that so beautiful and exalted a
phrase should excite. For example
throughout the long contest extending
over several decades of the free coin
age question the existence of this
n,ott0 On the coins was constant
source Of jest and ridicule; and this
was unavoidable. Everyone must re.
member the innumerable cartoons and
articles based on phrases like in God
We Trust for the Eight Cents; IN
Kod We Trust for the Short Weight;
In God We Trust for the Thirty
Seven Cents We Do Not Pay and so
forth, and so forth. Surely am well
within bounds when | say that a use
Of the phrase which invites constant
ievity OF this character is undesira-
he. If congress alters the law and
1t-gntc ma 10 renlapa on the pOinS the
sentence in question, it will be imme-
Aiately put into effect; but l very
earnestly trust that the religious SEN
timent Of the country, the spirit of
reverence in the country, will prevent
any such actin being taken.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"