Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice
Subject(s): China--Lüshun, Democratic Party (U.S.), Diplomatic and consular service, American--Selection and appointment, England, Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870, Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885, Hill, David B. (David Bennett), 1843-1910, International relations, Japan, Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, March, Peyton Conway, 1864-1955, Military attachés, Monroe doctrine, Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount, 1758-1805, Parker, Alton B. (Alton Brooks), 1852-1926, Philippines, Presidents--Election, Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ), Russia, Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891, Spring Rice, Florence, Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852
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President Roosevelt begins his letter to Cecil Spring Rice discussing the presidential election and how Alton B. Parker and the Democratic Party chose to campaign. Roosevelt mentions his plans to send Ambassador to Italy George von Lengerke Meyer to St. Petersburg, and spends the rest of the letter discussing Japan and Russia. The Japanese government treats Americans well, while Russia has treated the United States, England, and Japan poorly. However, Roosevelt believes the Japanese Army groups all white men together and considers such men inferior to themselves, as evidenced by the experience of American military attachés in Japan. The president opines that Russia is the main enemy of Japan, as long as it focuses on China, Korea, and Manchuria. However, if Japan desires to become a maritime power, it could threaten the United States, England, and the Netherlands. Roosevelt concludes his letter by saying, “[W]e must trust in the Lord and keep our powder dry and our eyes open.”
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1904-12-27
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Spring Rice, Cecil, Sir, 1859-1918
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
12
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. [December 27, 1904]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o268046. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice. [27 Dec. 1904]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 15, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o268046.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1904, December 27]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o268046.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. 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. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 15, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
