Your TR Source
John Thomas McDonough informs William Loeb when he will be in New York and says that he can meet with President Roosevelt after those dates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-06
John Thomas McDonough relays to President Roosevelt a conversation he had with Father John J. Wynne about progress in the Philippines. McDonough believes that he will support Roosevelt’s campaign. McDonough has also written to Archbishop Harty in Manila and thinks he will be satisfied with the information McDonough gave him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-30
Justice McDonough thanks President Roosevelt for the welcome and notes that he will go to Washington, D.C., “without delay.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-01
Justice McDonough of the Supreme Court of the Philippines is surprised by the rumors that he has been “antagonizing the Commissioners,” so he explains to President Roosevelt his interactions with Governor William H. Taft and General James Francis Smith. McDonough discusses the conflict between the Catholic friars and the government and expresses regret that the friars wish only to deal with Taft and not Smith, the latter of whom has been described harshly by Filipino Catholics. For his own part, McDonough has been reticent to denounce the friars because he sees their potential to preach peace, lawfulness, and loyalty to the United States and because he upholds freedom of religion in the Philippines. He also sees the sale of the friars’ lands as “purely a church question.” These privately expressed opinions aside, McDonough assures Roosevelt that he has been careful with his words and has not opposed Taft, Smith, or Vice Governor Wright in any way. He also quells a rumor that he has sought a seat of his own on the commission, expressing his desire merely to “serve this court with credit” before returning to Albany. He closes with a postscript requesting financial and transportation assistance for him and his family to return home when his term in the Philippines is over.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-14
Justice McDonough reflects on his first three months in the Philippines. He tells President Roosevelt of his surprise at the “remarkable progress” there and remarks how much the natives like Governor William H. Taft. In general, McDonough finds the Filipinos to be hard workers, and a “happy, clean, sober, virtuous, family-loving and religious people.” He also shares his thoughts on the Catholic friars in the Philippines. As much as they are criticized, McDonough praises the “great good” they have achieved in religion and education over the last three centuries and sees them as potential allies in assuring Filipino cooperation with the American government. Still, the friars’ land ownership is widely resented by the Filipino people, who McDonough feels would look more favorably on the friars’ work if these lands were acquired by the government. Presently, the friars complain of discrimination at the hands of barrio officials who even prevent them from ministering to those who have requested it. McDonough will do what he can to ensure that clergymen of every denomination are given equal protection under the law and to bring about an “amicable settlement” in the land matter, even if that means paying more than the land is worth.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-04
John Thomas McDonough is sending President Roosevelt a set of the revised debates of the Constitutional Convention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-20
John Thomas McDonough sends good wishes for the success of the Roosevelt administration. He believes it is important for President Roosevelt to cultivate political support and he suggests that Senator Platt be offered the position of Secretary of the Treasury. Platt is well qualified and his appointment would be popular in New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-17