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Illustration showing President Paul Kruger of the South African Republic as a frog attempting to make himself as big as the British John Bull, here actually shown as a bull. The cartoon makes light of the South African Republic, a small country, attempting to fight Great Britain in the South African War for independence.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1900-04-11
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.
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.
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 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.
A devilish-looking man holding an ink-tipped quill labeled “French Press” stands on a pedestal labeled “Paris,” gleefully kicking up his left foot labeled “Insults” toward the British Lion, in the background, who is engaged in war in the Transvaal. Behind the “French Press” is a press spewing “Venomous Articles” and “Spite Cartoons.” Caption: French Press–Me kick at the British Lion? Boo! Who’s afraid? Fashodia [sic] is avenged!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1900-01-03
Theodore Roosevelt has heard good things about Johan W. Colenbrander’s conduct in the South African War and would be happy for Colenbrander to refer to him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-03
Theodore Roosevelt has not received copies of Frederick Scott Oliver’s book yet, but he believes he will be in agreement with it. He bemoans the inaction of President Woodrow Wilson in response to Germany’s invasion of Belgium. He comments on the movement for universal disarmament and a League of Peace, which he believes wrong-headed and ineffective.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-29
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 thanks Frank Nelson Doubleday for sending him a volume of short stories by Rudyard Kipling. Roosevelt was disappointed that some of his favorite stories about soldiers in the South African War were not included and asks Doubleday to find out where he might obtain copies. Roosevelt also states that if he does not get a tutor from Harvard, he will write to young Parker.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-14
President Roosevelt sends Brander Matthews an excerpt of a letter that Edith Wharton sent Henry Cabot Lodge. The excerpt focuses on Wharton discussing George Otto Trevelyan’s history of the American Revolution with a soldier who participated in the South African War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-07
President Roosevelt would like to know if Earl Grey has any insider information on affairs in South Africa. Roosevelt hopes that the situation in Africa will settle down because he believes that the British and Boers will eventually “tend to amalgamate.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-22
President Roosevelt will seek to privately “better the South African situation.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-06
President Roosevelt found the report on British casualties in the South African War to be interesting. Roosevelt believes that the British percentage of loss during the fighting was considerably less than during the American Civil War or at the battle of San Juan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-08-05
President Roosevelt is looking forward to John St. Loe Strachey’s visit to Washington, D.C. Roosevelt has been occupied over an Alaskan boundary dispute with Canada and is not inclined to compromise since he believes that the Canadians do not have a “leg to stand on.” Roosevelt also met with some Boer prisoners with whom he sympathized, describing the men as “admirable stock out of which to make a nation.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-07-18
President Roosevelt is pleased that the Second Boer War has ended and suggests that a complete amnesty eventually be given to the “Cape Colony insurgents” similar to what happened to Confederate soldiers after the American Civil War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-06-20
President Roosevelt would like to see Andrew Carnegie to discuss “Cape affairs” and the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-06-13
Edward Reeve Merritt encloses a $750 check from an unnamed committee where he serves as treasurer. The money is for Boer victims of the South African War and is to be distributed by President Roosevelt. Merritt requests that most of the money go towards relief in the Orange Free State, the often forgotten ally of the South African Republic (Transvaal).
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-14