The Mena weekly star., 1907-11-21
NHYMOTTONASON|TT TED
No Warrant ia Law for Inscription Tn God We Trust"
 on Coins.
THE PRESIDENT ANSWERS PROTESTS
Declares Ills Conviction That to Put Such a Motto on Coins Is Danger ousiy Close to Sacrilege, Notwith- standing it Has Been the Govern ments Custom For Years.

Washington. Nov. 14.--ln 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:
 E 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, I might have felt at liberty to keep the inscription had I ap- proved of 1t being on the coinage. But as I did not approve of 1t, I did not direct that 1t 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 l have said there Is no
 
 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 in It's effect irreverence, which comes dangerously close to sacrilege. A beautiful and solemn sentence such as the one in question should be treated and uttered only with that fine reverence which necessarily i'm plies a certain exaltation of spirit Any use which tends to cheapen it. and above all, any use which tends to secure its being treated in a spirit of levity, is from every standpoint profoundly to be regretted. It is a motto which it is indeed we'll 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 tend to arouse and inspire lofty emotion in those who look thereon But it seems to me eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use or coins. just as 1t would be to cheaper 1t by use on postage stamps, or in ad vertisements. AS regards it's use or the coinage we have actual expert ence by which to go. In all my life l have never heard any human beins speak reverently of this motto on tho coins or show any signs of it's having appealed to any higher sense in him but I have literally hundreds of time. heard it used as an occasion of, ant indictment to the sneering ridicul, which it is above all things undesira ble that so beautiful and exalted phrase should excite. For exampl, throughout the long contest extending over several decades of the free coin age question the existence of this motto on the coins was constan source of jest and ridicule; and thil was unavoidable. Everyone must re member the innumerable cartoons ant articles based on phrases like Tn Go, We Trust for the Eight Cents: Ir Kod We Trust for the Short Weight Tn God We Trust for the Thirt, Seven Cents We Do Not Pay and s, forth, and so forth. Surely I am wei within bounds when say that a us, of the phrase which invites constan levity of this character is undesira ble. If congress alters the law an, directs me to replace on the coins tn, sentence in question. 1t will be imme diately put into effect; but I yer, earnestly trust that the religious sen timent of the country. the spirit O reverence in the country. will proven any such action being taken.
 THEODORE ROOSEVELT"