Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice
Subject(s): Administration, English-speaking countries, France, Germany, Japan, Leisure class, National characteristics, Political science, Russia, Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910, Trajan, Emperor of Rome, 53-117
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President Roosevelt agrees with Cecil Spring Rice that the love of ease and luxury in the upper classes of the English-speaking world and France is dangerous. Germany does not suffer this problem, but instead is in danger from the vices of industrialism, as is Japan. Roosevelt hopes that Russia may steer a middle course between bureaucracy and anarchy. Roosevelt thinks Spring Rice may idealize the past too much, and says that “it is our business to do everything we can to be both decent and efficient under conditions as we actually find them.”
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-07-21
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Spring Rice, Cecil, Sir, 1859-1918
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
3
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 Cecil Spring Rice. [July 21, 1908]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o203388. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice. [21 Jul. 1908]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. November 26, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o203388.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.: , [1908, July 21]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o203388.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. 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 Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. November 26, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
