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In support of the merchant marine ship subsidy bill, Edward Blackledge discusses the economic, political, and military results of Great Britain’s shipbuilding subsidies and contrasts them with the current state of the American shipbuilding industry as presently constituted without subsidies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-18
President Roosevelt tells British Ambassador to the United States Grey that Rennel Rodd was offered a position interacting with the US government, but turned it down. Roosevelt contrasts the attitudes and relations of a number of different countries with America and England, and takes a specific focus on Japan. Roosevelt notes that Japan has continued preparing for war over the last decade, and writes that there will be industrial competition between Japan and European countries. He also wonders if they are planning on invading America, Germany, or the Philippines. Roosevelt wants the United States and Japan to sign a treaty stating they will keep their citizens out of each other’s labor markets. Roosevelt closes by remarking on the similarities in governmental thinking and military approach between the United States and England.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-19
President Roosevelt would like to discuss the Goldwin Smith letters with Paul Dana. Smith’s suggested solution for the war seems good but Roosevelt doubts it could be carried out. He invites Dana and Mary Duncan Butler Dana to spend a night at the White House.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-27
Herbert W. Ladd informs Theodore Roosevelt about his daughter Elizabeth B. Ladd’s upcoming trip to Entebbe, Uganda, where she will marry Dr. Robert E. McConnell. Ladd requests Roosevelt’s advice, aid, or introductions to assist her during her journey and after her arrival in Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-11
General Barry notifies British Colonel Lee that he has sent the annual report, and he will send the Army Register as soon as it is available. In regard to the issuance of the Spanish Campaign Badge to foreign military attachés, the general staff have not yet been able to work out whether it will be possible, but Barry will notify Lee as soon as they decide.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-08
President Roosevelt holds a lunchbox and sees a variety of sights. Caption: 9 a. m.—He discovers the Pike. 1 p. m.—Passes through the Philippine village. 2 p. m.—Inspects the “Petroleum Alps.” 3 p. m.—Makes a rush for the stadium. 5 p. m.—Takes a last look at the general effect. And is compelled to leave before seeing the Boer war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-28
Arnold White writes about the international situation in Europe, addressing first Russia’s desire for a warm water port, and then his impression of Germany’s goals with regards to Europe. Germany, White says, is the only nation with something to gain from a European war, and that the push for war is coming from the Jewish influence in Germany. With President Roosevelt’s election and friendship towards Germany, the United States has been removed as a potential deterrent toward German aggression. White ends with a prediction that if war happens, it will come through German aggression towards the Netherlands moving towards a collision with Great Britain, and he admonishes his reader that Germany must be watched.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04
Resolution by the representatives of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal regarding the treaty to end the Boer War. Although the delegates believe in their right to independence, they recognize the costs of the war in destruction of property and loss of life, and acknowledge that there is no prospect of victory. They therefore urge their respective governments to sign the treaty with Great Britain, in the interests of their peoples.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-31
This draft of a letter gives instructions for distribution of a check to meet the needs of Boer women and children in the concentration camps.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-15
A bruised John Bull offers a “Tonic” of “Financial Help” and “Liberal Treatment” to an injured and battered Paul Kruger, President of the South African Republic, following the end of the fighting in South Africa.
Puck consistently had taken the side of Great Britain through the Boer War in its editorials and cartoons. In similar fashion, as the South African nationalists under “Oom Paul” finally were defeated in the Transvaal and Orange Free State, cartoonist Pughe almost immediately depicted the terms of surrender in the most generous light. After negotiations, some of them contentious, a treaty was signed, stipulating that the “Republic of South Africa” and the Orange Free State would be formal colonies of Great Britain, with promised timetables for increased rights and eventual independence.
John Bull stands up to his knees in a morass labeled “Boer War £16,000,000 yearly,” and Uncle Sam steps through a similar morass labeled “Philippine War $80,000,000 yearly.”
Cartoonist Dalrymple strangely drew Uncle Sam and Joan Bull with smiles, but in fact these foreign-policy challenges were more than just financial drains. Moral challenges, fatalities, and seemingly hopeless solutions faced the two nations. From 1899 to 1902, when the Boers ultimately surrendered, and the Transvaal and Orange Free State were merged as constituents of the British Empire, the Boers (farmers) waged strong guerrilla campaigns, and the British accelerated their brutal responses. It was Britain’s longest war, lasting between 1815 and 1914, sustaining 22,000 deaths; and almost 50,000 casualties on the South African side, 15,000 of them were black. The United States’ suppression of the Filipino insurrection was nominally ended in 1902, when President Theodore Roosevelt signed an amnesty, but pockets of resistance and sometimes brutal American responses festered almost behind the scenes for years.
Illustration showing the British Lion, wearing a military uniform, aghast by the tattered look of a female figure labeled “Peace,” her clothing torn, head and left arm bandaged, and walking with a crutch, the dove at her feet looks plucked. In the background is a sign stating “The last Boer ditch” stuck in ground labeled “South Africa.” Caption: Great Britain. — Didn’t you tell them the war was over? Peace. — “Yes; – and they immediately filled me full of lead; – said it was only a rumor of war!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1901-02-20
Britannia stands with an injured farmer (“Boer”) and an African native, showing them a view of the future when “Enlightened Government” comes to South Africa after the Boer War is over.
Puck Magazine consistently championed the “White Man’s Burden,” as much for British Imperialism as for America’s expansionism. Rival publications like Life Magazine, and public figures like Mark Twain, were consistent critics of the British during the Boer War. At the time of this cartoon, the Boers were quite successfully refusing to capitulate to British soldiers.
A diminutive soldier labeled “France” stands next to a large Russian bear gesturing with a sword toward John Bull standing opposite, while a battle rages in the background labeled “Transvaal” (the South African lands of the Republic and the Orange Free State). Caption: France–You may be able to whip the Boers, but I dare you to tackle the Russian Bear!
Through the 19th century, France and Russia formed several alliances — some secret, some quite public; some to counter potential German or British aggression. Around 1900, the two nations considered Great Britain a threat, especially as London formed an alliance with Japan (1902) that emboldened Japan as it threatened Russia in the Pacific. That situation led to the Russo-Japanese War, which was ultimately meditated by Theodore Roosevelt. Also at this time, the Kaiser became belligerent against France when it denied German trade access to Morocco — a situation also diffused by Roosevelt’s mediation — with Russia and Britain both nervously looking on. At the time of this cartoon, the Franco-Russian alliance still viewed Great Britain as a potential common enemy.
Illustration showing a man sitting on a rock with a rifle across his lap, he is holding a Bible, a young boy is standing in front of him holding a toy rifle, and in the background, a woman is standing at the entrance to their house. Caption: Boer Child. — Father, if I were carrying the Bible in one hand and a gun in the other and an enemy approached, which should I drop first? Boer Father. — The enemy, my son!
In the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, many politicians and journals celebrated the unspoken alliance of Anglo-Saxon peoples — the United States, a new Empire, joining the United Kingdom, on whom “the sun never set.” Puck and Judge waved such flags. Their rival, Life Magazine, was anti-war and anti-Imperialist. However, favor was often shown towards the South African Boers, who resisted British domination and cartoons such as this Nankivell cover depicted the Boers as sympathetic, even noble.
Illustration showing John Bull standing at the gate to South African markets as figures representing Germany, Italy, Austria, France, and Russia protest. Caption: John Bull. — When I open a door I leave it open freely to all of you. I have given you about all the foreign trade you have! What are you mad about?
Dalrymple’s cartoon betrays a subtext that unapologetically accepts the aggressive colonial policies of the British Empire, that British hegemony was beneficially neutral in world trade, and not detrimental to the freedom of economics and commerce of other nations.
Illustration showing John Bull as Gulliver being tied to stakes with ribbons labeled with the names of battles from the Second Boer War. Some of the Lilliputians are identified as South African generals and presidents, such as “Botha,” “Joubert,” “Kruger,” “Cronje,” and “Steyn.” A broken sword, labeled “British Prestige” lies on the ground next to John Bull.
Pughe’s cartoon, with the numerous battles and leaders labeled, reveals with what great interest Americans followed the Boers’ insurrection and the difficult suppression undertaken by the British.
Illustration showing John Bull as a sailor, floating in a life-preserver labeled “British Navy 800 War Ships,” surrounded by huge waves labeled “Germany,” “France,” and “Russia.” There are cannon barrels pointing in all directions from the life-preserver.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1900-02-28
Illustration showing two concerned citizens and Joseph Pulitzer imploring Uncle Sam, dressed as a U.S. policeman, to break up a fight taking place in the background labeled “South Africa” between John Bull and Paul Kruger.
The concerned citizens in Pughe’s cartoon are meant to represent missionaries and clergymen, appealing for humanitarian intervention in the Second Boer War. Joseph Pulitzer, as Publisher of the New York World and de facto leader of the Democrat Party press, urged intervention as he had previously in Cuba. The fight between Great Britain and the Boers (“Farmers”) is depicted by John Bull, the traditional symbol of England, and “Oom” (Uncle) Paul Kruger, leader of the insurgent Transvaal (South African Republic) and the neighboring Orange Free State.
The British Lion runs on a path toward “Pretoria” while four figures representing Russia, France, Germany, and Italy hide. At the time of this cartoon, the British Empire stepped up its campaign to suppress rebellion of its colonial rule in South Africa.
Pughe’s cartoon could illustrate the admonition against “fishing in troubled waters.” By 1900 most of the globe had been carved up by colonial powers or controlled by spheres of influence. South Africa was recalcitrant, a thorny problem for the British who regarded the Horn of Africa with special importance. Only 15 years before this cartoon’s publication, Germany had gobbled up lands, largely comprising the present Tanzania, and established German East Africa, and British colonial fears were heightened. The cartoon suggests that Great Britain simultaneously doubled its resolve to quash the Boer Rebellion, and kept rival powers from intervening themselves.