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John Callan O’Laughlin met with Ambassador Cassini and delivered a message from President Roosevelt. Cassini stated that he hopes the United States will urge Japan to be moderate in its peace demands, to which O’Laughlin replied that Roosevelt did “not desire to convey the terms of Japan to Russia or vice versa.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-07
Ambassador Meyer reports that Russian Emperor Nicholas II is in favor of continuing the war with Japan. While the general sentiment of others favors peace, there is unanimous agreement that a continuation of war is preferable to paying a large sum in reparations. Meyer recounts accusations of corruption by the Navy Department who reportedly passed on purchasing superior warships as there would be “no commission for certain Russian individuals.” Meyer has had no response to his letters to Secretary of State Hay regarding trade with Russia but feels the matter needs to be addressed urgently if the United states is not to lose out.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-05
Admiral George Dewey and President Roosevelt with his “Nobel prize” stand in the vessel, “The Forlorn Hope,” and release a dove that holds “peace notes to South America.”
Frederick Morgan’s cartoon depicts President Roosevelt and Admiral George Dewey, and refers to South American leaders, but a major figure behind the cartoon is not shown: Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War William H. Taft, who is dressed in traditional Japanese attire and holds an olive branch, “Taft, I guess you had better make a short Japanese trip” as he points out the window at explosions going off in Japan.
San Francisco-area politicians, newspapers, and agitators had long resented the presence of the Japanese in their midst. Japanese workers arrived in the United States since the 1870s (when Tokyo ended its isolationist emigration policies) and, generally speaking, unlike Chinese field workers and railroad laborers who tended to return home, many Japanese intended to become American citizens.
Industrialist Andrew Carnegie, peace advocate and sponsor of the upcoming International Peace Congress at the Hague, holds a shepherd’s hook labeled “Peace Congress” and reaches up to grab the “naval program” horn dangling from a moon featuring President Roosevelt’s likeness.
Andrew Carnegie had been persuaded to be the principal supporter of the Second International Peace Conference at Hague, set for October 1907. Since the first conference in that Dutch city, nominally convened at the invitation of Russia even as it planned its own military buildups, Carnegie had sold his steel and related enterprises, and became arguably the world’s richest man. With that increased fortune, and more time to himself, the canny Scots-American pursued interests from simplified spelling to establishing “free libraries” to promote peace.
President Roosevelt holding his “big stick” and San Francisco Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz in his arms steps up on a platform, “Conquest of California.” In the background are other figurines of Roosevelt: “San Juan Hill,” “Russian Jap Peace,” and “Anti-race Suicide.”
T. S. Sullivant was one of the great American cartoonists of his time, active mostly between the 1890s and his death in 1926. His specialties were animal subjects and ethnic themes. Between roughly 1904 and 1909, he was employed by William Randolph Hearst, principally to draw daily political cartoons. The drawings often were cartoon masterpieces, but unlike his earlier and subsequent work for magazines and color supplements — both rare enough today — are virtually inaccessible to scholars due to the scarcity of newspaper files.
This commentary by Sullivant is one example. It is mildly critical of Roosevelt — for instance, the inevitable Rough Rider outfit is inappropriate except for one cited accomplishment — but notes a few of the substantial achievements of a life that indeed was busy.
A woman, “Peace,” crowns President Roosevelt, who is already wearing an enormous “Nobel Peace Prize” and holding his big stick, with a laurel wreath. On the ground are three laurel wreaths beside a paper that reads, “Amicable adjustment of Japanese question.”
C. R. Macauley, over his long cartooning career, was seldom complimentary toward Theodore Roosevelt. He drew this cartoon for the semi-official organ of the national Democrat Party, the New York World; in 1912 he was even the official, salaried cartoonist for the press office of the Democratic National Committee.
Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon says, “Tariff revision or an extra session!” in one cartoon. The next includes a teddy bear and President Roosevelt reading a paper that says, “Mr. President: Anything you say goes! California.” Another cartoon depicts a government clerk holding a bag that says, “50% salary increase” while Uncle Sam says, “And more if necessary.” The next cartoon depicts William Jennings Bryan saying to William Randolph Hearst, “After you, my dear Willie!” with a sign that reads, “To presidency.” Another one shows South Carolina senator Benjamin R. Tillman depicted with a pitchfork walking toward the White House with a dove of peace. Finally, the last cartoon depicts Senator Joseph Benson Foraker with a sign that says, “Reenlistment” in front of a group of soldiers labeled, “25th Infantry” — the black regiment at the center of the Brownsville Incident.
When cartoonist Clifford Kennedy Berryman switched, shortly prior to this drawing’s publication, from the Evening Star from the Washington Post, his drawing style improved: a better ability to capture celebrities’ likenesses to place atop little bodies. This cartoon fell back on the erstwhile cartoonists’ annual chestnut — a reliable theme to use once a year, the Valentine cards for politicians — either dream-fantasies or the unlikeliest of scenarios.
President Roosevelt, dressed like a farmer, sows seeds from a bag labeled “$40,000 Peace Prize” with a bird “Peace” on his head. In the background is a fence labeled “American Industry.”
The background this cartoon is the recent announcement by President Roosevelt that he would assign the monetary award from his Nobel Peace Prize committee to “social and industrial” justice. The intention was sufficiently vague that the funds only gathered interest for a dozen years, never connected to a foundation or specific project (many charitable groups during America’s participation in the Great War ultimately received the apportioned funds).
“Norway” hands President Roosevelt a “Nobel Prize $40,000.” Behind Roosevelt is a large “big stick” with “olive branches” on the wall along with the “Treaty of Portsmouth—Russo-Japanese.” On the ground is “Roosevelt’s plans for Industrial Peace Commission—$40,000 endowment.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-11
“The Press” tries to walk toward the “cabinet” car, which includes Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Attorney General William H. Moody, Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte, and Secretary of Commerce Victor H. Metcalf, but “Headkeeper” William Loeb holds “the big stick” and tells him to stop. There is a dove of “peace” on the car and a sign that reads, “This way to the stuffed bears and mountain lions.” President Roosevelt rides away on an elephant.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-22
President Roosevelt points his finger at a pile of football players on the lawn of “the White House Athletic Field.” A cage with the words “the new mascot—peace” is on the ground while as the wall has a sign that reads “teams coached under the new rules.” German Emperor William II, surrounded by instruments, looks over the wall. Caption: The Kaiser—(enviously)—Just wait until he tries to lead an orchestra.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-11
President Roosevelt leaves the goddess of peace to jump over a fence with a dove and “the big stick.” On the other side, one man is jumping on top of another.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-11
President Roosevelt holds the “big stick” and “peace” papers as he looks towards the United States Capitol building. A number of papers fall out of his briefcase: “cotton scandal airing,” “magazine article written,” “investigation of Castro,” “beef trust jostle,” “a submarine trip,” “cabinet changes,” “speeches made,” and “sermon preached.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-01
Russian Emperor Nicholas II and Japanese Emperor Meiji, who holds a “Port Arthur Manchuria” suitcase, hold the hands of an angel with President Roosevelt’s face. Caption: “Peace hath her Victories,” &c.—(Milton.)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09
In the first section, Russian Emperor Nicholas II and Japanese Emperor Meiji come to President Roosevelt, saying, “We cannot agree on peace terms. Roosevelt responds, “What?” In the second section, Roosevelt knocks their heads together and says, “Well—suppose you get together and try again—” In the third section, Nicholas II and Meiji have stars around their heads as they look as a paper that reads, “Russo-Japan Peace Terms.” Roosevelt stands in the doorway with his “big stick” and says, “—And I’ll give you just 15 minutes to sign those papers—”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09
President Roosevelt holds an American flag with a tag that reads, “let us have peace,” on the globe. The Japanese and Russian flags can also be seen. Caption: The flag of peace: Roosevelt unfurls it over the world.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09
A rooster with President Roosevelt’s face smiles as a “Portsmouth conference” hen looks at a large “peace” egg surrounded by shotgun shells.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-31
President Roosevelt greets Kermit Roosevelt after they both went hunting. The president carries two dead “war” dogs while Kermit holds a bear carcass.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-01
President Roosevelt wears a “world’s champion peacemakers medal” as he looks over the globe and asks, “Any more peace needed down there, neighbors?” He holds olive branches and a dove in one hand and a “long distance peace telescope” in the other. “France” and John Bull hung each other on one side while “Spain” says, “He let me in on the peace ground floor.” A man in Africa holds a paper that reads, “all quiet across the Congo,” and says, “I’ll wire this to Teddy!” Meanwhile, Russian Emperor Nicholas II and Japanese Emperor Meiji bow toward one another. German Emperor William II puts his finger to his hand and says, “Well, I’ve got to keep quiet or Roosevelt will be after me.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-31