Letter from John Thomas McDonough to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Campbell, Richard, Catholic Church, Colonies--Administration, Freedom of religion, Friars, Hendrick, Thomas Augustine, 1849-1909, Ireland, John, 1838-1918, Land tenure--Political aspects, McDonough, Catherine Wallace, 1849-1925, Missionaries, Philippines, Religion and politics, Root, Elihu, 1845-1937, Smith, James Francis, 1859-1928, State governments--Officials and employees--Public opinion, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, United States territories and possessions, United States. Philippine Commission (1899-1900), Wood, Leonard, 1860-1927, Wright, Luke E. (Luke Edward), 1846-1922
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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.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-09-14
Creator(s)
McDonough, John Thomas, 1844-1917
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
18
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 John Thomas McDonough to Theodore Roosevelt. [September 14, 1903]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o42193. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
McDonough, John Thomas, 1844-1917. Letter from John Thomas McDonough to Theodore Roosevelt. [14 Sep. 1903]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 15, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o42193.
APA:
McDonough, John Thomas, 1844-1917., [1903, September 14]. Letter from John Thomas McDonough to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o42193.
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. January 15, 2026. 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.
