Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles William Eliot
Subject(s): Books and reading, Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, Cromer, Evelyn Baring, Earl of, 1841-1917, Cuba, Democratic National Convention, Democratic Party (U.S.), Dominican Republic, Egypt, Hadley, Arthur Twining, 1856-1930, Hoar, George Frisbie, 1826-1904, Independence movements, Miles, Nelson Appleton, 1839-1925, Petitions, Philippines, Republican National Convention, Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ), Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, 1712-1778, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, Wright, Luke E. (Luke Edward), 1846-1922
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President Roosevelt has seen the petition for the United States to give political independence to the Philippines, which Charles William Eliot has signed. Roosevelt writes that the Republican convention will not consider it, and if the Democrats do, they prove hypocritical. Roosevelt believes granting independence to the Philippines is the easy way out, while the right thing to do is to remain involved in the Philippines for the betterment of its people. Roosevelt cites other examples, such as Egypt and Cuba, and refers to Arthur Twining Hadley’s Freedom and Responsibility. Roosevelt asks if Eliot would see Secretary of War William H. Taft about the matter.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1904-04-04
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Eliot, Charles William, 1834-1926
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
7
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles William Eliot. [April 4, 1904]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o188389. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles William Eliot. [4 Apr. 1904]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o188389.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1904, April 4]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles William Eliot.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o188389.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
