Colonization

President Roosevelt thanks British Governor General of the Sudan Wingate for providing a boat in Gondokoro and offering assistance with guides and camp set up. He details his feelings regarding hunting in the reserves, and inquires about finding elephant, white rhinoceros, and giant eland. Roosevelt knows General George Wood Wingate and respects him as a soldier, and he is grateful that Lady Catherine Leslie Rundle Wingate will host Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and Ethel Roosevelt. S. J. Leigh Hunt has said that Reginald has accomplished a great deal in Sudan, which Roosevelt knows is a difficult feat.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-14

George Otto Trevelyan writes to President Roosevelt about Panama and the Philippines, drawing parallels with Macaulay’s histories and Ancient Rome. Trevelyan discusses the British diplomatic service and his latest work on the American Revolution. He also describes a recent visit from Charles Francis Adams and his wife, and he muses on what it is like to be old. Trevelyan writes of their shared love of English literature, mentioning Milton, Chaucer, and W. W. Jacobs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-12

Brander Matthews sends President Roosevelt an article and pamphlet. Matthews admires Roosevelt’s ability to persuade others to “give over fighting” and hopes the president can get some real rest ahead of the “hour of struggle.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-11

Lieutenant Governor Guild asks President Roosevelt if he will have time to grant an interview to Alleyne Ireland, an “expert on Tropical Colonization.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-07

Theodore Roosevelt was impressed with Count Chinda Sutemi’s letter, and hopes that if Henry White needs any help from Roosevelt, he will let him know. Roosevelt regrets not seeing White while the latter was in New York, but hopes the two can catch up soon. Roosevelt is worried about the report that Pancho Villa hopes that the Japanese will “colonize lower California.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-18

Theodore Roosevelt considers G. Lowes Dickinson as a dreamer who “treats facts as irrelevant to the work of life.” International peace must be backed by an international force on the basis that “might shall be put behind right.” An international force is not possible until the “civilized states” guarantee to use force against recalcitrant states. The United States could have taken an important step by acting on behalf of Belgium’s neutrality but President Wilson did not take this step and pacifists cheered him for this “treachery to the cause of peace.” Dickinson is damaging his cause by basing it on false grounds. Roosevelt argues that all nations are not equal and making believe they are will only create “far-reaching harm.” Mankind has benefited from European colonization, and treating the natives as equal to white colonists will lead to the death of all colonists and many natives. Dickinson strives for much that is right but will remain utterly powerless.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-02

President Roosevelt congratulates himself and Frank P. Sargent for their shipment to Hawaii. He says they will “succeed in turning Hawaii into the right kind of island!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-05

Brigadier General Smith delivers a speech upon taking office as the Governor-General of the Philippines. He praises the work of his predecessors Henry C. Ide, Luke E. Wright, and William H. Taft. He blames the Philippine-American War (1899-1902) on the Filipinos misunderstanding the motives of the United States’ policy to govern the Philippines while preparing the Filipinos for self-government rather than granting them independence immediately. Smith credits the United States for its restraint towards enemy combatants and in building in the Philippines municipal, judicial, educational, and taxation infrastructure while promoting a slate of liberal civil rights. He believes that to restore prosperity following the destructive war they will need to encourage new markets, American investment, the construction of railroads, and better training for the Philippines Constabulary. He particularly believes in broad education in the English language and in the trades. He recommends postponing the question of independence and addressing instead practical matters. He notes the importance of separating state functions from those of the Catholic church.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-20

Governor Roosevelt very much liked Frederick Courteney Selous’s book, though he was saddened to read of the loss of elk and deer in the forests. Roosevelt hopes that peace comes to South Africa soon and the races can amalgamate as they have in the United States. Although Roosevelt finds the office of Vice President to be “distasteful,” he was glad to have done his part against a “dangerous and unAmerican party movement.” Roosevelt hopes to hunt somewhere in the Southwest prior to the inauguration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1900-11-23

William Alexander Sutherland, a government servant in British India, is sending Theodore Roosevelt a manuscript of his book. He hopes the book can improve relations between the United States and England, and thinks that the subject matter will be interesting to Americans. He asks if Roosevelt can help him get the book published in the United States. He is willing to split profits of the book.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-20

Gough D. McDaniels, the first black winner of Brown University’s Gaston medal, delivers a speech exhorting the United States to send support for Liberia. McDaniels argues that the Liberians have a chance to civilize the African continent, and points out the ways that a stable Liberia could economically benefit the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910

F. W. Christian sends Theodore Roosevelt an advanced copy of a book detailing his travels through the South Seas and French Polynesia. Christian is very concerned over the welfare of the native people of the islands living under French rule, and believes that missionaries should be given a freer hand to work there. He hopes the book will stir up American sympathy for the people on the islands.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-11-12

John William Burgess, a professor at Columbia University, writes to President Roosevelt defending a recent speech that the U.S. press indicated has annoyed Roosevelt greatly. Burgess assures Roosevelt that the Germans have correctly interpreted his use of the word “veraltet,” and do not take Burgess’ speech as a shift in the position of the U.S. on the questions he raised related to the Monroe doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-08

John Barrett, former delegate to the Pan-American Conference at Mexico and former Minister to Argentina and Panama, responds to a request from President Roosevelt, to provide observations and data regarding the commercial and political relations of the United States with Latin America.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-27

Bishop Rooker writes to President Roosevelt to respond to concerns about his relationship with the Filipino members of his diocese. He says that Roosevelt “accuse[s] me of wanting to restore despotism” but argues that he wants to improve the situation of the Filipino people. He also accuses Governor Taft of “recklessness” in his assessment of the situation in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-10

Tweed Roosevelt describes two failed attempts by Scottish settlers to establish a colony on the isthmus of Panama. Roosevelt examines the conditions in seventeenth-century Scotland, notably a prolonged drop in temperatures or “the Little Ice Age,” that prompted the exodus, and he highlights how the lack of proper planning, poor leadership, and the harsh conditions doomed both expeditions. Roosevelt highlights one of the survivors of the second attempt, Archibald Stobo, who settled in Charleston, South Carolina, rather than return to Scotland. Stobo’s daughter would marry into the Bulloch family and her lineage can be traced to Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt’s mother. 

Two photographs and two illustrations appear in the article.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Austria-Hungary Bellamy Storer informs President Roosevelt of a recent visit by King of the Belgians Léopold II. Storer discusses tensions in the Congo between the British and Belgian governments and European colonization in the Congo, referencing editorials in The Times, the Treaty of Berlin, the French explorer Pierre Savorgnon de Brazza, and rumors of Belgian atrocities in Congo, using Belgian explorer Henry M. Stanley as an exemplar.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-22

Captain Sigsbee presents two translations of German newspaper articles received from consular agents in Germany. The first article discusses Germany’s intent to promote immigration to South America and focuses on available economic opportunities for the German people. It claims that the United States ignored the Monroe doctrine by annexing Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Philippines. The second article states Germany should not try to establish itself in South America as it would not be able to maintain long term control.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-25

Albert Griffin argues that Cuba is important to American interests and must be “Americanized” and kept under the influence of the United States. He believes the Americanization can be achieved through immigration to Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-17

Montagu White is glad that Frederick Courteney Selous is answering Governor Roosevelt’s questions about “the South African difficulty.” White believes that American public opinion is growing in favor of the Boers, and that those who wish to preserve the special friendship with Great Britain should push for peace in order to prevent anti-British feeling. White thinks that if the Boers lose their independence, Britain will lose South Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1900-03-06