Morley, John, 1838-1923

Lyle A. McGeoch examines the state of relations between the United States and Great Britain when Lord Lansdowne served as Britain’s foreign secretary from November 1900 to December 1905. He highlights the negotiations concerning the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, the settlement of a boundary dispute between Canada and the United States, and a crisis stemming from Venezuela’s debt to Great Britain and Germany. McGeogh also looks at how Lansdowne struggled with the appointment of an ambassador to the United States, his difficulty at times in dealing with the personal style of diplomacy employed by President Theodore Roosevelt, and Lansdowne’s recognition of growing American power in the first decade of the twentieth century.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1979

Edmund Morris argues that “the more one analyzes Theodore Roosevelt in the harsh light of historical research, the more authentic an American hero he becomes.” Morris looks at different episodes in Roosevelt’s life, such as his service during the Spanish-American War, to make his case, and he compares Roosevelt’s life to heroic figures from mythology and literature such as Hercules, Beowulf, and King Lear.  

Homer Davenport’s famous cartoon, “He’s good enough for me,” featuring Uncle Sam and Theodore Roosevelt is on the first page of the article.

Henry White reports information he has learned since returning to London that might provide insight into the prospects of President Roosevelt’s renomination and reelection. Josiah Quincy reported that the Democrats do not feel they have a chance of winning. Craig W. Wadsworth also learned that Democrats do not believe that they will win. White delivered Roosevelt’s messages to various people. He also says that the sentiment on Wall Street regarding Roosevelt has changed, and that his nomination now seems more likely.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-05

In excerpts from his speech, Jacob Gould Schurman discusses concerns with large corporations and ways to make competition fairer. He believes the solution is not socialism. Rather, he suggests the public should abolish special privileges to corporations. Schurman is glad President Roosevelt mentioned this issue in his annual message and agrees with his suggestion of giving the Interstate Commerce Commission more power. In addition, Schurman suggests other policies for reform, including an income tax and changes to the tariff and the Philippine policy. Schurman looks forward to when the Philippines will have an independent republican government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-20

Newspaper article chronicling the dedication of a statue to W. E. Gladstone in Manchester, England, including the text of a speech delivered by John Morley.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-24

President Roosevelt and Edith Roosevelt have designated breakfast as their private family meal, and he enjoys spending this time with his children. He looks forward to a favorable result in the upcoming election; Edith has invited the members of the cabinet over on election day to celebrate or mourn the outcome as it happens.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1904-10-18

Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister about his time in London. He describes the numerous invitations he has received to dine and hunt, and admits that he has turned down several invitations to spend time meeting with those in London’s intellectual circles, including John Morley and James Bryce.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1886-11-22

President Roosevelt tells Sir George Otto Trevelyan of his happiness regarding the recent 1904 presidential election, and remarks that he is glad people decided to support the positive message of the Republican Party, rather than the negativity of the Democratic Party. The president attributes his victory to the clear-cut message in his speeches and addresses as well as those canvassing for him. Roosevelt discusses the differences between the American president and other political leaders and believes the American president is more like the British prime minister than the French president. he additionally reflects on his intention not to run for a third term. Even without the convention of only two terms, the president believes it would be better for Secretary of War William H. Taft or Elihu Root to succeed him; they are similar in policy, but would have fresh thoughts and ways. Roosevelt concludes by discussing his recent reading. He praises a section from one of Abraham Lincoln’s speeches after his reelection and equates certain American political leaders to characters in Charles Dickens’s works.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-24

Theodore Roosevelt is glad Alfred Harmsworth Northcliffe liked his book. However, it is not an electioneering document. Indeed, he used it to “say every disagreeable truth.” He does not believe the Republicans intend to nominate him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-08

President Roosevelt is glad that Edward Morley and John Grey liked his speech praising British colonial rule in India. However, Roosevelt feels he only said what needed to be said, especially since there is currently “agitation” in India which “foolish” Americans take “mischievous pleasure” in.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-21

President Roosevelt sends word to Robert Harry Munro Ferguson that he will be leaving public office in “a rather stormy fashion,” being attacked by both houses of Congress and by the press. James Bryce has remarked that bringing libel cases against the biggest two offenders in newspapers will be a service to the American public. Bryce and John Morley suggested Roosevelt make a statement about the British in India, which he plans to do presently. Some of Roosevelt’s English friends sent him a rifle for use on his African safari.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-17

President Roosevelt tells Vice Chancellor T. Herbert Warren, of Oxford University, that whatever he decides shall be done, and that Oxford University’s press will publish his Romanes lecture in lecture form on both sides of the Atlantic. He understands that he will be able to publish his lecture later in a volume of essays, similar to John Morley’s recent volume. Roosevelt sends Warren a copy of his lecture to look over and keep for him until he arrives in England in 1910.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-30

President Roosevelt is planning to take Sydney Brooks’ advice in describing the British attitude in India in an upcoming speech. He liked Brooks’ article, and is pleased that he is going to write another one. Roosevelt appreciated Brooks’ praise of his achievements in office, but highlights what he believes are his greatest achievements while in the presidency, including increasing the size of the navy, the construction of the Panama Canal, the creation of forest reserves, and the involvement of the United States in international affairs to promote world peace. He encloses several volumes of his Presidential addresses and State papers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-28

President Roosevelt has sent British Ambassador Bryce’s letter to Ambassador William Woodville Rockhill. He agrees that one of the benefits of the Atlantic Fleet’s voyage is getting in touch with Australia. Roosevelt echoes Bryce’s thoughts of the late Ambassador Herman Speck von Sternburg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-07

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for the interesting letter, especially for the insight on Newfoundland. He is interested in what Secretary of State of India John Morley says about India, and discusses the intricacies surrounding “the control of thickly peopled tropical regions by self-governing northern democracies.” Roosevelt hopes to speak with Morley after presenting the Romanes lecture at Oxford. He asks Reid to inquire of the British statesman, Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, about conditional hunting on the reserves. The Vermont elections went well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-03

With delight, President Roosevelt shares with Senator Lodge the newspaper account of a riot in Brownfield, Texas, over the erection of a Roosevelt statue. He is glad for the invitation from George Nathaniel Curzon, the Chancellor of Oxford, to present the Romanes lecture on his return from Africa. It is an honor, and it gives him a legitimate reason for visiting England. The matter of renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes grows worse, and Roosevelt worries about the impact it may have on William H. Taft’s election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-18

President Roosevelt returns the Royal Natural History to Henry Fairfield Osborn, President of the American Museum of Natural History. He likes Osborn’s bookplate and will send his. George Nathaniel Curzon, Chancellor of Oxford, has invited Roosevelt to give the Romanes lecture, which he plans to give in the spring of 1910.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-17

President Roosevelt praises Secretary of State Root’s recent lectures at Yale University, calling them “lofty essays.” In an extended postscript, Roosevelt says he is enclosing a letter from Japanese Ambassador Kentarō Kaneko, saying he likes Kaneko, but also calls him a “fox.” Roosevelt says the Japanese have reason to be offended over the treatment of Japanese immigrants in San Francisco, and asks what other legal measures can be taken to protect them. On the other hand, Roosevelt says that these problems do not give Japan the excuse to be thinking of war with the United States. Roosevelt does not believe the Japanese will attack American positions in the Pacific or Alaska, but “there is enough uncertainty” for the United States to be on its guard for war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-26

President Roosevelt sends Justice Moody a copy of John Morley’s book about Edmund Burke, and thinks he will enjoy the “most interesting and illuminating work.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-04

President Roosevelt admires how George Otto Trevelyan handled matters with Jamaica Governor James A. Swettenham. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt gifted Roosevelt a volume of Rennell Rodd’s histography, with the Frankish occupation of Greece being of particular interest to him. While he admires the “American money-maker” that contributes to the betterment of all society, he cannot say the same of a wealthy man who has made that money with little to no moral compass.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-10