The Washington herald., 1908-01-06
Why Not Be Consistent 2

Edl57 The Washington Herald:
in his able treatise on "DisestabIishment
I'm France" published last year. Paul
SabaUer the eminent French liberal the
ol0giaR. and son Of the late Auguste Sa-
batter, the stiu more eminent and pro-
found French liberal theologian, who
was dean of the Protestant faculty of
theology OF the University of Paris de-
clares that in the United States the
separation Of the church and the state is
but an empty phrase and a semblance
OF reality "a merely empirical solution
OF a problem Of which France IS seeking
q solution. based on reason logic, and
principle"
This is certainly a hard saying for q
nation in whose government no principle
is more vital and fundamental than that
OF the separation ot church and state
and which, not without reason, regards
the adoption and practice of this principle
gs its greatest and most unique COntribu-
tiOn 10 the treasury of civilization. But
it is an opinion that IS not entirely with
out warrant.
Among a number of things which can
not be cited against IL, one to which il is
pertinent TO refer ar this time is the mat
ter of the theological motto. In God WI
trust on the coins of the nation, and
the fUr0r which has followed its omis-
sion from one of those coins. The
prompt and decided protest against this
omission. in which a number of your cor
respondents have joined. and the moYe-
ment now on foot 90 have the motto re-
stored TO this coin by act of Congress, ex-
hihit the fact that. so far. az least, as
the attitude and conception Of a con-
siderable element of the American peo-
pie is concerned. our separation uf church
and state is, indeed, empirical and not
IA matter of reason, logic. and principle
And i'm this matter it is not alone the
attitude Of a large and aggressive ele-
ment of our population which goes TO
support the opinion Of Sabater. for the
incident has brought to light the fact
that this theological motto. which has
appeared upon the coins of the nation
for nearly half a century Gt was rot
placed there by THE founders OF the
nation" as one of your correspondents
mistakenly assumes. was placed there by
order OF a Secretary OF the Treasury. and
By virtue of acts OF Congress. so that by
executive and legislative action the gov
eminent has been committed not only 10
the theological doctrine of God. but to
But perhaps the most striking thing Of
all in this matter which goes to support
Sabatiers opinion Is the astonishing fact
that. Notwithstanding all the comment
and discussion which the matter has
evoked, there has been an almost entire
ignoring of the principle of separation OF
church and state, and its bearing in the
matter, whereas in nothing could that
principle be more pertinent and appli-
cable
If our separation Of church and state
permits what those who are protesting
against the removal Of the motto In God
we trust from the nations coin assume,
it is just what Sabatier says it is-an
empty phrase and a semblance of reality,
and an offense TO reason, logic. and prin-
ciple, II We believe in the principle Of
separation of church and state. let us
consistently adhere to it; and If VIC do
not believe in it and do not propose to
observe it. let US frankly say so.
JOHN ID. BRADLEY.