In God We Trust

Waupaca Republican

November 22, 1907

“IN GOD WE TRUST” IRREVERENT ON COIN

“Close to Sacrilege” President Tells Critics of Motto Omission From New Coins

EXCITES “SPIRIT OF 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 cause 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 the 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 the executive on the subject.

Letter Sets Forth His Views

In answer to one of the many protest 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 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 approved its being on the coinage. But as I did not approve of it, I did not direct that it should again be put 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, but 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 uttered only with that the reverence which necessarily 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 our legislative halls, and in buildings such as those at West Point and Annapolis – in short, wherever it will tend to arouse and inspire a lofty emotion in those who look thereon. But it seems to me eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen it by use on postage stamps or in advertisements.

As regard 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 on the coins or show any signs of its having appealed to any high emotion in him, but 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 beautiful and exalted a phrase should excite.

If Congress alters the law and directs me to replace on the coins the sentence in question, the direction will be immediately put into effect; but I very earnestly trust that the religious sentiment of the country, the spirit of reverence in the country, will prevent any such action being taken.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT