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Governor-General James F. Smith provides the Philippine Commission and the Philippine Assembly with a detailed report summarizing the administration of the Philippines and its economic standing. Smith is hopeful that the Assembly will rise to the challenge of governance, and exhorts them to fulfill their duties well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-16
Captain Chappelear provides a letter of recommendation for C. T. Alden, who served under him for two years in the 35th United States Volunteer Infantry. Chappelear recommends Alden for an officer position in the scouts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-01
Lieutenant Cameron writes a letter of recommendation on behalf of C. T. Alden, who served under Cameron in the Philippines between September of 1899 and January 1900. Despite difficult and unpleasant circumstances, Alden served well. Alden is looking for a position in the scouts, and Cameron recommends him for the job.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-05
General Wood informs President Roosevelt about the situation in the Philippines, reporting that besides the areas of Leyte and Samor, the situation is relatively quiet. He recommends that America keep the islands garrisoned to prevent agitators from upsetting order. Wood opines that the Filipinos are far behind Cuba on the path to deserving independence, but praises the Spanish for having evangelized and civilized the Philippines. Wood recommends the recovering Lieutenant Gordon Johnston for the Medal of Honor. Wood plans to send his family home to the United States for the children’s schooling, and after the Filipino elections hopes himself to visit France and Germany to observe military maneuvers and methods there. Wood hopes afterwards to be appointed to New York where he can work on seacoast defense, but is willing to return to the Philippines if requested. Wood also discusses his opinions on the results of the Russo-Japanese War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-18
James Franklin Bell, Chief of Staff of the United States Army, proposes a plan to President Roosevelt to disarm Cuban insurgents. The plan, based on experience in the Philippine-American War, involves discreetly gathering information through American officers in Cuba, with the “consent and cooperation” of Cuban President Tomás Estrada Palma.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-30
General Wood, Governor of the Moro Province of the Philippines, informs President Roosevelt about the situation in the occupied Philippines. He recommends that reenlistment periods for discharged soldiers be for one year instead of three to encourage the retention of trained troops, especially in the Philippines. He reports on the death of Philippine resistance leader Datu Ali. He recommends that the Hawaiian Islands be fortified against vulnerability to the Japanese, who are refitting Russian battleships. He favors fortifying the area of Manilla rather than the whole of the Philippines, preferring for funds to go towards building the Pacific Fleet. He asks that the garrisons in the Philippines be kept at war strength. He laments the loss of American railroad concessions in China, and warns against allowing Chinese laborers into the United States. He recommends encouraging English, Italian, German, and other European immigration to the Philippines through some form of territorial citizenship, free transportation, or tax incentives.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-13
In an address to the Harvard Alumni Association, Secretary of War Taft discusses the Philippine-American War and the effect on the Filipino government of anti-imperialist criticism of the war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-28
Report, prepared under the direction of Secretary of War Taft for President Roosevelt, detailing the policies and administration of the War Department since 1897. The report reviews the growth of the department as a result of the Spanish-American War and argues that the War Department has become essential to the executive office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-18
William N. Tilchin surveys the major works on President Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy from 1956 to 1986, looking at nine books and one article. Tilchin provides detailed reviews of eight of the books, and highlights the discussion of diplomacy in the ninth. In doing so, Tilchin addresses the historiography of Roosevelt and his foreign policy, and he demonstrates how Roosevelt’s reputation as a diplomat grew from the low point it reached with Henry F. Pringle’s biography of 1931. Tilchin touches on the major international crises and issues of Roosevelt’s presidency, including the Philippine American War, the creation of the Panama Canal, and the voyage of the Great White Fleet. The essay is supported by 183 endnotes and includes a listing of publications about Roosevelt’s diplomacy not addressed in the text.
The article also contains three text boxes: one lists the leadership of the Theodore Roosevelt Association; another, “About the Author,” notes Tilchin’s work as a teacher and historian; and a third says that this issue of the journal “is dedicated to the people of the State of North Dakota.” A portrait of Roosevelt and a photograph of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt with elements of her air wing illustrate the article.
Serge Ricard argues that President Theodore Roosevelt practiced a style of diplomacy that was clothed in self-righteousness and was backed by the threat of force. Ricard argues that Roosevelt’s diplomacy lacked nuance because Roosevelt reduced all conflicts and disputes to a “simplistic vision of right and wrong.” He asserts that Roosevelt lacked Woodrow Wilson’s endless self-examination and William H. Taft’s commitment to dollar diplomacy, but that he viewed America’s role in the revolutions of the Philippines and Panama in black and white terms with the United States playing the role of guardian of progress and civilization. Ricard closes by arguing that Roosevelt’s style of diplomacy has endured to the detriment of the United States and its foreign policy record.
John A. Gable writes a brief introduction to this article in which he notes Ricard’s credentials, and he stresses that the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal welcomes the opportunity to air debates about Roosevelt’s record.
James B. Martin examines the tumultuous relationship between Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles and President Theodore Roosevelt during the first two years of Roosevelt’s administration. Martin details Miles’s impressive record as a field officer, earning the Medal of Honor during the Civil War, and he shows how he was not as well prepared to fight bureaucratic battles in Washington, D.C., as the Commanding General of the Army. Martin looks at the issues that caused a breach between Miles and Roosevelt, including Miles’s criticism of American actions in the Philippines. Martin covers the role played by Secretaries of War Russell A. Alger and Elihu Root, and he lays most of the blame for the Miles-Roosevelt dispute at the feet of Miles, but he does note that Roosevelt’s large ego and decision not to forcibly retire Miles contributed to the feud.
Photographs of Miles and Root appear in the article. An article box on page eleven notes that this issue of the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal is dedicated to Oliver R. Grace.
A full-page newspaper article about the “church problem” in the Philippines. The problem of anti-church sentiment among Flipinos, particularly against friars, was already existing and inherited by the United States government. Secretary of War William H. Taft, formerly Governor-General of the Philippines, takes a commission to The Holy See to seek solutions to these problems in common interest. Issues of land ownership and the establishment of a school system are negotiated successfully by Taft’s commission in the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-22
Secretary of War William H. Taft addresses the Philippine Assembly at their inaugural gathering. Taft gives an overview of the American administration of the Philippines as well as his assessment of the challenges facing the Assembly in the fulfillment of their political duties.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-16
Paul Morton asks President Roosevelt to consider awarding a contract to build railroads in the Philippine Islands to him and his friends.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-28
Charles W. Watson shares his opinion concerning independence for the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-29
President Roosevelt honors General Luke E. Wright on his return from the Philippines. Roosevelt praises both the state of Tennessee and Wright. Roosevelt gives several examples of how the United States is once again a whole entity, using especially Wright’s conduct as acting governor of the Philippines. He also discusses the United States’ actions and duties in the Philippines, and addresses charges of wrongdoing against the U.S. Army. He notes that while the U.S. has made some steps towards allowing self-government for the Filipinos, it would be more dangerous to move too quickly towards self-rule than to move too slowly. This is the press copy of Roosevelt’s speech.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-19
President Roosevelt honors Luke E. Wright on his return from the Philippines. Roosevelt praises both the state of Tennessee and Wright. Roosevelt gives several examples of how the United States is once again a whole entity, using especially Wright’s conduct as acting governor of the Philippines. He also discusses the United States’ actions and duties in the Philippines, and addresses charges of wrongdoing against the U.S. Army. He notes that while the U.S. has made some steps towards allowing self-government for the Filipinos, it would be more dangerous to move too quickly towards self-rule than to move too slowly. This is the press copy of Roosevelt’s speech with edits and applause noted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-19
President Roosevelt honors General Luke E. Wright on his return from the Philippines. Roosevelt praises both the state of Tennessee and Wright. Roosevelt gives several examples of how the United States is once again a whole entity, using especially Wright’s conduct as acting governor of the Philippines. He also discusses the United States’ actions and duties in the Philippines, and addresses charges of wrongdoing against the U.S. Army. He notes that while the U.S. has made some steps towards allowing self-government for the Filipinos, it would be more dangerous to move too quickly towards self-rule than to move too slowly.
President Roosevelt thanks the members of the Union League of Philadelphia for their commitment to upholding the principles of Abraham Lincoln. He praises the traits that brought the American people through the Civil War and subsequent trials that the nation faced. Roosevelt asks the assembled club to reflect on former President William McKinley’s policies, and says that while policies alone cannot make a nation great, “good laws and good administration of the laws can give to strong, honest, brave men a chance to do well.” Roosevelt praises McKinley’s ability to handle the unexpected challenges of the Spanish-American War and subsequent acquisition of the Philippines. He outlines the current situation in the Philippines, with the ending of the Philippine-American War, the establishment of civil administration, and general situation of peace. Roosevelt advises that the government must solve issues related to the industrial growth of the nation. This is the press copy of Roosevelt’s speech.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-22
President Roosevelt thanks the members of the Union League of Philadelphia for their commitment to upholding the principles of Abraham Lincoln. He praises the traits that brought the American people through the Civil War and subsequent trials that the nation faced. Roosevelt asks the assembled club to reflect on former President William McKinley’s policies, and says that while policies alone cannot make a nation great, “good laws and good administration of the laws can give to strong, honest, brave men a chance to do well.” Roosevelt praises McKinley’s ability to handle the unexpected challenges of the Spanish-American War and subsequent acquisition of the Philippines. He outlines the current situation in the Philippines, with the ending of the Philippine-American War, the establishment of civil administration, and general situation of peace. Roosevelt advises that the government must solve issues related to the industrial growth of the nation. This is the press copy of Roosevelt’s speech with handwritten edits and applause noted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-22