Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Josephine Shaw Lowell
Subject(s): Autonomy, Christianity, Civil rights, Democratic Party (U.S.), Filipinos, Hay, John, 1838-1905, Islam, Parker, Alton B. (Alton Brooks), 1852-1926, Race relations, Root, Elihu, 1845-1937, Schurz, Carl, 1829-1906, Southern States, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, Taggart, Thomas, 1856-1929, Tausug (Philippine people), Williams, John Sharp, 1854-1932
Click on image to zoom in
President Roosevelt will not promise Josephine Shaw Lowell more than he already has and believes the Democrats are “utterly insincere” in promising independence to the Filipinos. Roosevelt compares the Christian Filipinos to the Islamic Moros and worries that freedom for one group would disrupt peace. Roosevelt also discusses the absurdity of the Democrats calling themselves a reform party under Thomas Taggart, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He is also upset about Carl Schurz’s support of Alton B. Parker in the election because it is the party of John Sharp Williams, Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, who presides over a district whose majority is comprised of people of color but which is governed by white men.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1904-08-01
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Lowell, Josephine Shaw, 1843-1905
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
2
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 Josephine Shaw Lowell. [August 1, 1904]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o188734. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Josephine Shaw Lowell. [1 Aug. 1904]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 6, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o188734.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1904, August 1]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Josephine Shaw Lowell.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o188734.
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. February 6, 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.
