Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1907 — “IN GOD WE TRUST” IRREVERENT ON COIN [ARTICLE]

“IN GOD WE TRUST” IRREVERENT ON COIN

“Close to President Tells Critics of Motto Omission from New Coins. EXCITES “SPKIT OP LEVITY.” Should Be Used Only in Reverence —Suited for Monuments or Temples of Justice. “In God We Trust” Is to disappear forever from United States coins unless Congress acts contrary to the wishes of President Roosevelt, and the latter* appeals to the people of the nation to prevent such action. Mr., Roosevelt Wednesday came out squarely and decisively against having the sacred motto on money. He declares, In brief, that the inscription Is a sacrilege when placed on filthy lucre, that it does positive harm and that it has been the eause of a great amount of Irreverence. If Congress compels him to do so, the President says he will restore the words immediately, but not until then will he do so. He assumes full responsibility for tbe omission on the new gold coins and shows the warmth of his convictions In the matter in a response to various ministers’ associations which have addressed thq executive on the subjecL_ Letter Seta Forth Hla View*. In answer to one of the many protests received at the White House, President Roosevelt has written the following letter: When the question of the new coinage came up we looked Into the law and found there was no warrant thereiun for putting ‘“ln 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 haff I approved its being on the coinage. But as I did not approve of it, I did not direct that it should again be puit 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 immediately obeyed. At present, as I 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 put such a motto on coins, or to use It in any kindred manner, not only does no good, bat does positive harm, and is in effect irreverence which comes dangerously close to sacrilege. A beautiful and solemn sentence such as the one in question* should be treated and ottered only with Hat fine reverence which neecssarily implies 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 well to have inscribed on our great national monuments, in our temples of justice, In oar legislative halls and in buildinga such as these at West Point and Annapolis—in short, wherever it will bend to arouse and inspire a lofty emotion la those who look thereon. But it seems to me eminently unwise to cheapen such s motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen it by use on postage stamps or in advertisements. As regards its use on the coinage we have actual experience by which to go. In all my life I have never heard any human being speak reverently of this motto en the coins or show any signs of its having appealed to any high emotion la him, bnt I have literally hundreds of times heard it used as an occasion of and incitement to the sneering ridicule which It Is above all things undesirable that so beantifbl and exalted a phrase should excite. If Congress alters the law and directs ms to replace on the coins the sentence -4n .q3estion,-the „dixftQtion,.,'?HlU _be .I®!* 1 *!, dlately put into effect; but I very earnestly trust that the religious sentiment of the country, the spirit of reverence is the country, will prevent any such action being taken. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.