Catholics

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene A. Philbin

Theodore Roosevelt is still being attacked on his treatment of the Catholics in the Philippines. Roosevelt identifies himself to Eugene Philbin as half Dutch and half Irish, but he believes that the “vital question as to any man is not his national origin or his creed, but his spirit and purpose.” Roosevelt would like Philbin to write an editorial on his behalf to the Evening Post speaking out for the fair treatment that Roosevelt gives people, especially Catholics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene A. Philbin

Bourke Cockran is “violently attacking” Theodore Roosevelt, because Roosevelt is not standing up for the Catholics in the Philippines. Roosevelt believes that he is a good citizen who treats Catholics and Baptists equally.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene A. Philbin

President Roosevelt argues that he does not favor Catholics any more than he favors Protestants, and tries to treat every person alike in public office as he does in his personal life. The United States will last for many centuries, and he hopes that Catholics elected president in the future will appreciate his actions. He supported the nomination of General Philip Henry Sheridan, a Catholic, for president in 1884. Roosevelt would like Eugene A. Philbin to read a letter written by John Henry Hammond about Roosevelt’s removal of Asa Bird Gardiner.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Maurice Francis Egan

President Roosevelt sends to Maurice Francis Egan a copy of a letter that he wrote as Police Commissioner of New York. In the letter, Roosevelt rejects the suggestion that he practiced religious discrimination in organizing the police force. Roosevelt also sends to Egan a copy of an article about the “ethnic side” of the New York police force.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lucius B. Swift

President Roosevelt verifies the truth of a report in the Evening Post, that William Michael Byrne is a Catholic who has always supported Roosevelt, even during the period of questioning about the administration’s conduct in the Philippines. Byrne was appointed by Roosevelt as United States Attorney in Delaware without reference to whether he was for or against John Edward Addicks. Byrne later moved to New York, where he was again appointed by Roosevelt as an Assistant District Attorney. Support or opposition to Addicks was as irrelevant in the former appointment as the latter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John B. Worrall

Theodore Roosevelt lists various religious groups that have visited the White House. Roosevelt would like John B. Worrall to know that he does not discriminate for or against anyone because they are Catholic or Protestant.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Francis Smith

President Roosevelt will not accept the resignation of James Francis Smith as Secretary of Public Instruction for the Philippine Commission. Roosevelt believes Smith is contributing the greatest possible service in the Philippines. Smith’s attitudes toward Protestants and Catholics makes Roosevelt feel proud of him as an American, as Smith is treating everyone equally without regard to religion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Zadok Rooker

President Roosevelt was not surprised by Bishop Rooker’s letter since he had already heard of the conflict between Rooker and the Filipinos, as well as the American government officials. Many people have contradicted what Rooker said and Roosevelt hopes that the Catholic prelates in the Philippines can convince the Filipinos that they are their friends and not their enemies like the friars who preceded them. Roosevelt has taken steps to create a special tribunal regarding the Aglipayan quarrel, disregards Rooker’s “groundless” claims against Commissioner Smith and is committed to increasing Filipino independence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Michael Walsh

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt thanks Reverend Michael Walsh for sending him the requested address and expresses his admiration for Archbishop John Ireland.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-05-28

Letter from Julius E. DeVos and Edward J. Vattmann

Julius E. DeVos and Edward J. Vattmann outline the operations of the Catholic Colonization Society, which frames itself as a philanthropic organization to help Catholics form companies to purchase land and create farming communities in various countries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-1909

Extract from the pastoral letter of the archbishops and bishops of the United States assbmled in the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore

This extract of the Pastoral Letter of the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore emphasizes a portion of the letter dealing with the association of Bishops’ names with newspapers. The fact that Bishops may publish messages in such newspapers does not give sanction to other articles appearing in the papers, and does not identify the Bishop with the paper. Rather, “it merely designates the paper as one in which the Bishop will cause to be inserted such official documents as he, from time to time, may have to publish.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1866-10

Letter from Mrs. J. H. Drummond to Theodore Roosevelt

Mrs. J. H. Drummond writes Theodore Roosevelt inquiring about T. Augustine Dwyer. Drummond asks Roosevelt about his various merits and political work as an ambassador to Spain. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-03-11

Letter from L. V. Twyeffort to Theodore Roosevelt

L. V. Twyeffort sends Theodore Roosevelt two clippings. He knows Roosevelt is a “staunch” yet “large-minded protestant” and is sure he meant “catholic” in the larger sense, not “Roman catholic,” as the clipping infers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-02

Letter from Raffaele De Pierro to Theodore Roosevelt

Raffaele De Pierro writes to Theodore Roosevelt about a recent interview Roosevelt had with Peppino Garibaldi. While some Italian Catholic priests have sought to use this interview to present the view that all of them are good, De Pierro, as a pastor of Italian Protestants, provides some examples of priests working for their own benefit and not necessarily that of their communities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-05

Letter from Maurice H. Cole to Theodore Roosevelt

Maurice H. Cole shares his views with Theodore Roosevelt regarding a number of topics, including public lands given to trusts and special interests; progressive reform measures like the initiative, referendum and recall; the influence of Catholics and socialists on the United States; and relations between labor and capital, and how the government can help arbitrate conflicts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-26

Letter from H. Hunter to the Outlook

H. Hunter believes The Outlook would be less critical of Harrison Gray Otis’s attitude towards labor unions if it understood the circumstances connected with the dynamiting of the Los Angeles Times building. Hunter is a fan of several politicians, including Theodore Roosevelt, for the enemies they have made of socialists, labor unions, and “undesirable citizens.” Hunter points the finger at Catholics and the Irish as being involved with these undesirable causes as well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-01

Letter from Peter Berghuis to Theodore Roosevelt

Peter Berghuis urges Theodore Roosevelt to not endorse President William H. Taft for the presidency in 1912 because Taft has appointed too many Catholics to government positions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-24

Letter from Hal Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Since writing “The Confession”, Hal Reid has come into close contact with several high-ranking members of the Catholic Church. Because of this, he has something to discuss with Theodore Roosevelt, and asks if they might be able to meet to discuss it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-01

Letter from Dora McLaughlin to Theodore Roosevelt

Dora McLaughlin informs Theodore Roosevelt that the St. Anne’s Altar Society holds copyright on a picture of John Henry Tihen—Bishop Elect of Lincoln, Nebraska—and inquires how much money the Outlook would pay for its exclusive use in The Outlook. She is a fan of Roosevelt and his work in spite of his actions in “the Vatican Case,” and she feels that publishing a piece on Tihen will raise Roosevelt’s approval among Catholic voters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-01

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles J. Bonaparte writes on behalf of the committee formed to organize the celebration of Cardinal Gibbons’s jubilee in Baltimore, Maryland. Bonaparte and the rest of the committee ask Theodore Roosevelt if he will consider joining in the celebration. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-18