China

Postcard showing a Chinese woman sitting in a rickshaw being pulled by a Chinese man. Dragon motifs are visible in the top corners. Charles C. Myers comments on Chinese women’s use of rickshaws.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Chinese Rickshaw, similar to Japanese Rick-i-sha and used the same. In addition to this the Chinese use the sedan chair, which is a sort of chair with poles attached to it so as two or four men can carry it. This sort of a chair is used to carry fashionable women to their places of worship as their feet are so small and deformed by the use of wooden shoes that they can walk but very little. But for facial expression, I saw some Chinese women that were very good looking all except their eyes.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a group of eight Chinese individuals playing various instruments. Charles C. Myers comments on the noise of such bands.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “A Chinese band that can make enough noise and of a fit kind to drive any human being crazy in short order, yet, they call it music. Showing also a Chines[e] postage stamp 4 ¢, worth 2 ¢ of our money.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Draft of a letter of introduction from Theodore Roosevelt to William J. Calhoun on behalf of Charles P. Stewart, who will be traveling to China on behalf of United Press and the Newspaper Enterprise Association.

Comments and Context

Drafted by Gilson Gardner for Theodore Roosevelt to type up and send with Roosevelt’s signature.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

James G. Lewis explains how deforestation in China became a central part of President Theodore Roosevelt’s last annual message to Congress in December 1908. Lewis notes that Roosevelt’s conservation efforts had been increasingly thwarted by Congress in the last two years of his administration, and Roosevelt decided that he needed to make a strong case to Congress in his last message. Roosevelt used the example of what had happened to China’s soil, rivers, and climate after massive deforestation had rid many of its mountains of trees and vegetation. Roosevelt relied on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and photographs supplied by Frank Nicholas Meyer and Willis Bailey to emphasize the damage done in China. Lewis notes that Roosevelt was the first president to add photographs to his annual message. 

Five photographs appear in the article, including three of deforestation in China, a similar scene from Utah, and one of Meyer. 

Bela Tokaji writes to the editor of the Brooklyn Daily Times to refute claims that immigrants will be the downfall of America made by Alfred Paul Karl Eduard Schultz. Tokaji states the peaceful and industrious men and women who come to America have demonstrated their loyalty. The children of immigrants will continue to take care build America for centuries to come.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-10

Bela Tokaji writes to the editor of the Brooklyn Daily Times to refute claims made by Alfred Paul Karl Eduard Schultz that immigrants will be the downfall of America. Tokaji states the peaceful and industrious men and women who come to America have demonstrated their loyalty. Mary Emelia Clark Barnes is quoted from her speech at the international congress for the welfare of children saying immigrant children are the future of the nation. Since four in five children born in New York City are born to immigrant parents, Tokaji agrees with Barnes and cites immigrants’ enormous contribution to the industrial growth in America as proof.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-09

William Penn Nixon details Mary H. Krout’s career as a member of the Inter-Ocean editorial staff, including her time as a correspondent in the Pacific and London. He attests her work is accurate, and she is “a forcible and brilliant speaker.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-25

Gustav J. Karger reviews and praises President William H. Taft’s various achievements during the two years of his administration. By placing “the cause of the people above all other considers,” Karger finds Taft has reached the “heights of constructive statesmanship.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-30

Ambassador Rockhill provides additional information pertinent to efforts to localize the war in the Far East, which would require neutralization of territories that does not seem possible. A statement shared between China and Japan affirms China’s desire to remain neutral, although Rockhill notes that the arrival of neutral forces would disturb the people of China as well as the Imperial Court. The British and German governments do not agree with an interpretation of the 1900 Anglo-German treaty that would allow for the neutralization plan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-06

President Roosevelt writes an open letter to the editor of The Outlook commenting on the state of China and on missionary efforts and Christian education there. Roosevelt feels that the American people should support the efforts of missionary groups that are seeking to spread Christianity and Western education in China.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-07

Reports indicate General Pavel I. Mischenko of Russia and his Cossack troops have deliberately invaded neutral territory in China. Because China seems unwilling to enforce its neutrality, it is believed that Japan must protect itself against the Russian raids that violate neutral territory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01

August Belmont holds a whip as a Republican elephant jumps over a large barrier with slats that read, “Panama Canal,” “coal strike settlement,” “open door in China,” “reciprocity with Cuba,” “curbing of trusts,” “Dept Commerce and Labor,” and “Alaskan boundary decision.” A donkey jumps through the space just above the “curbing of trusts” slat.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-14

President Roosevelt and Secretary of State John Hay hold a “diplomacy” paper and run toward a “Chinese goods contents unknown” barrel, but they are stopped by Uncle Sam’s cane. All of the other barrels are “gun powder” barrels from different countries: “English,” “French,” “German,” “Russia,” among others.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-14

This cartoon depicts various components of President Roosevelt’s annual message, including international relations with Colombia, Canada, the Philippines, Turkey, and China; support for Civil War veterans and General Leonard Wood; and “more lighthouses for Hawaii.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12

William H. Taft packs his suitcase with stamps from “Japan,” “Philippines,” “Cuba,” “Panama,” and “China” as the Republican elephant looks on. On the ground are several books, including Winning the West, and a “time table” and “Taft’s stump itinerary.” On the wall is a picture of Taft giving whistle-stop speech from the back of a train. Taft says, “Well, now I guess I will be at home in this traveling stunt!”

comments and context

Comments and Context

William H. Taft unfortunately was known for his lassitude, frequently falling asleep during his presidency, even during daytime meetings. The cause might have been a variety of narcolepsy, occasioned by his bulk of up to three hundred and forty pounds.

Secretary of War William H. Taft is depicted in the attire of various countries: Japan, France, China, Russia, and Germany. At the top of the cartoon is State of Colorado Executive Office letterhead and a handwritten note that reads, “This is the most delicious of all the Taft cartoons.. I have sent one to Mr. Vorys for Secretary Taft.. This one is for the President.. With compliments, Henry A. Buchtel.. October. 31, 1907..”

comments and context

Comments and Context

This clipping from the White House scrapbook of political cartoons is unique beyond its intrinsic contents. It was sent to the White House by an amused reader, the governor of Colorado, Henry Augustus Buchtel. He also (as cited in his handwritten note) sent the same clipping to an assistant of Secretary of War William H. Taft.

President Roosevelt tours Asia with tracts in his hand and his bag labeled, “T. Roosevelt U. S. A.” and a “big stick” under his arm. He is followed by men holding hymnals as foreigners run away. Minarets and Mount Fuji can be seen in the distance. Caption: “Is this to be President Roosevelt’s future? To tour the Orient with the big stick and blaze the way for American missionaries.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

The background of this cartoon has to do with more than President Roosevelt’s declaration, made on election night of 1904, that he would not seek a consecutive term after the one to which he had just been elected, but his agreement to be a regular post-presidency contributor to The Outlook, a weekly Christian magazine of opinion and news, was generally known.

President Roosevelt uses a “Peace of Portsmouth” axe to cut down the big stick labeled “war: partisan exaggeration of Roosevelt’s strenuousity.” “China,” “Germany,” “England,” “Italy,” and “France” all look on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-04

An illustration of President Roosevelt has images and captions in it, including “settlement of the coal strike,” “protection against foreign labor,” “gold standard,” and “U.S. Supreme Court.” Meanwhile, Alton B. Parker is surrounded by Democratic leaders and is tied down by “sugar trust,” “Standard Oil,” and “rail-road franchise” ropes. Caption: Why Parker “Because he is perfectly safe.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-06

President Roosevelt accepts the letter from Ambassador Wu of China, and expresses his sympathy for the recent deaths of Guangxu, Emperor of China, and Cixi, Empress dowager of China. He welcomes Wu as the representative of the newly crowned Puyi, and expresses his hopes for the future stability and success of China

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12