Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-11-26

! u - WIN SOmptn'DG or II SHOCK
that the Presidents order comes to
MANY people. who can see in IL little
eise than backslling, seeming re
pudiation OF our faith.
| While this controversy IS i'm pro
sress, II will be interesting To know
something about now 1t all came
ABOUT that the wo DIS In God We Trust
ever found y place upon our metal
money. The story is told thus: "A
hrst suggestion OF such recognition
OF the Deity came, In 1861, from "A
| pennsylvania Clergyman. who feared
mat Antiquarians of the future might
ueduce that the United States had
oeen q pagan country because of the
nt3ence OF any evidence to the con-
.rary on its coins. But the fo.m OF
INC recognition rs II was finally adopt
"a and stamped upon the gold and
Spver coins was determined by Sal.
mon T.. Chase, Secretary of the Treas.
ury in President Lincolns cabinet
There was no specific act of Conrres.
directing that the wo:ds In God We
Trust be put upon the coins. but nj.
though President Roosevelt found no
warrant In law for the words. II is
matter OF record that tho Secretary
OF treasury ordered the director of
tho mint to stamp them OH the mon.
ey' and In 1864 Congress authorized
such devices on the coins as should
DO liked by the director with the an.
proval of the Secretary. Further leg
'siat.ve authority for the motto WIS
gwen by the coinage bills passed BY
Congress In 1865 and 1873"
The Pennsylvania minister who
ilISI mnnn No
reverend NJ. II. Watkinson. who was
then stationed ut Ridleyville, Pm. His
detailed proposal was that Instend of
.he Goddess OF Liberty we shall have
next inside the thirteen stars rinr
inscribed with the words Pernctnal
Union; within this ring the allseeinp
we crowned with n halo: beneath
ms eye the American flag, bearing IN
.,s held stars equal to the number Of
mo states united; in the folds of rho
ours the words, God. Liberty. Law"
Wlthin n week Secretary Chase Of
INC treasury Depa .tment wrote a let.
'eT 10 the director of the mint In
winch he said: NO nation can no
strong except In the strength of God
OF saie except In the strength of God
OF saie except in His defense Tho
,Iust oil our people In God SHOULD bo
uvCiared on on. national coins. Yo,,
VII cause a device to be prepnred
Nnnout unnecessary DELAY with n
motto expressing IN tho fewest and
.erest words possible this national re-.
coGnition.,
IL was. however found that como
ieglsiation w0s necessary before nnv.
,nlng IN this direction could be done
lilasnuch as BY act of Congress, in
1851 u had been decrecd what moitoca
should be placed upon our coins Dut
eventually the director OF tho MINI
submitted two notices to tho srcra-
Giy: Our Country. Our God: and
uod our Trust. These were for the
ome Two nnd three,cent pieces. Mr.
Chase modified tho wording 10 Our
Trust. :" "ou "o
An act was passed on Anri, -,
1868. changing tho composition Of tho
one cent piece. and authorizipr the
coinage of the two.cent piecc tho so
wees of which were to bc fixnd h,.
me director of the mint. with The nm.
psoval of the Secretary of tho Traas.
u,ry; ami II was upon the two.cem,
bronze piece that the motto In Col vye
trust first appeared. The art os
march .. 1865, provided that IN odd,.
uon to the legend and device nm tho
god ana silver coins OF the Iinitcd
states 1t should he lawful for tho III.
rector OF the mint. with tho anprovoi
Oh me Secretary OF the Trcasury to
piacc the motto in God we Trust mn
such CONS as should admit of tho in.
scripuon thereon. Under this act tbc
motto was placed upon the doubie
cage the eagle and the half .eaglc
ana also upon the dollar. the half and
me quarter dollars. in the latter nart
OF 1855. The coinage act OF February
u 1873. provided that the Secretary
OF inc Treasury may cause tho mot
70 In God We Trust to he inscrlhed
on such coins az shall admit of snch
motto. " Suc'
Thus while it does moi seem law
lul Tor the President 10 order new In.
scriptions on the coins, there 10 mn.
narently no enactment which makes
u unlawful for him to orde.- the omis.
sion OF the inscription with which VIC
are al familiar. The legality of his
act however, has nothing to do ~
course. with its propriety.-pufralo