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Ambassador Griscom informs President Roosevelt that he can soon expect to receive a one-of-a-kind sword from the people of Sendai, Japan. Griscom mentions that Reverend D. B. Schneder is on his way to America with the sword. Griscom encourages Roosevelt to send a letter to the Sendai mayor in return for the gift.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-21
President Roosevelt thanks Jacob Scherffius for sending him the “very beautiful and valuable old rapier.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-02
Uncle Sam, with a bundle of papers labeled “Canal Plans,” pats a diminutive man, wearing a hat labeled “Panama,” on the shoulder. The man smiles broadly and is leaning on a large sword. Canal construction equipment is just offshore, in the background. Caption: Uncle Sam — Well! Well! You boys have at last had a revolution which will help the whole world.
Sometimes in cartoons, as well as texts — and perhaps more so, literally — history can “read between the lines.” Joseph Keppler Junior’s cover cartoon in Puck appeared one week after the United States and the new Republic of Panama concluded a treaty that recognized the latter’s national independence.
Damocles, frightened, wearing a crown labeled “Industry,” stands beneath a large sword labeled “Coal Strikes” hanging by a single thread.
Perhaps the most important detail of Keppler’s cartoon is the “S” at the end of the word Strikes. In the public’s mind, and even history’s larger assumption, the Anthracite Coal Strike was settled in the fall of 1902. Mining production had resumed and the crisis of heating homes was averted. However, contentious negotiations were still ongoing between owners, miners, and arbitrators. Random incidents of strife still occurred (there had been violent coalfield deaths during the strike), and issues similar to the Pennsylvania Anthracite mines roiled elsewhere in the United States, especially in Colorado. Keppler’s cartoon was a reminder that labor strife continued and that industry, not only homes, was a potential victim.
Columbia stands on a globe labeled “United States,” holding a balance scale labeled “Constitutional Amendment” on which rests a large sword labeled “Centralized Government.”
Beginning around this time in American national politics, traditional voices in the mainstream occasionally advocated, at least in theory, the benefits of centralization and regulation. Of course Theodore Roosevelt himself did, advocating the first measures of the regulatory state that peaked around 1906 with legislation and gained traction after 1910, the insurgent and Progressive movements. There was no one impetus, but the seemingly intractable challenge of the trusts might, to some, be solved by a corresponding consolidation of governmental power. Also, political and economic theorists among academics frequently urged centralization of the federal government. Countries in Europe, especially Germany, experimented with Socialism, with apparent success. When magazines like Puck (conservative Democrat, largely) and Judge (conservative Republican) argued occasionally for centralization and, for instance, municipal ownership of utilities, it seems surprising today. It was surprising then, but reform was in the air. It is also a matter of speculation about whether the voices of opinion, and leaders like Roosevelt, might be proud of the ideas they planted, or see centralization as a Frankenstein monster after the subsequent century.
Uncle Sam sits at a table with 10 figures, three of which are unidentified, the others showing the attributes of the rulers of Russia (Nicholas II), England (Edward VII), Germany (William II), Japan (Meiji, Emperor of Japan), Italy (Victor Emmanuel III), Austria (Franz Joseph I), and France (Emile Loubet), representing the eight nation alliance. A large tray of fruit labeled “Chinese Indemnity” is on the table. Hanging above the table by a thin string is an enormous sword labeled “Awakening of China.”
The world powers who suffered financial, diplomatic, personnel, and moral setbacks at the hands of the Boxer movement in China, withdrew from activism in China around the time of this cartoon. In formal terms, the combined troops of colonial powers defeated Boxer elements, but the truth is represented by the fact that these powers virtually abandoned their positions in the Celestial City and throughout the country. A “face saving” aspect against China was the demand for indemnities for the losses sustained by the allied powers. This cartoon presents a new spin on the “Sword of Damocles” hanging over world politics by the awakening of a sleeping giant, China.
President Roosevelt heartily thanks Yogoro Matsumoto for gifting him a sword by the famous sword-maker Munemitsu of Jakushu. He accepts it under the “Bushido” philosophy wherein, “the sword must never be drawn save with justice and never sheathed save with honor.” Roosevelt expresses his interest in the history of Japan, and feels that “the great civilized nations of the world can each teach and each can learn from the others.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-16
Theodore Roosevelt is glad that Mrs. M. Paulus’ daughter liked the letter. He prefers that Mrs. Paulus not send the sword. He has too many things in his house that have personal associations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-31
President Roosevelt thanks fellow Rough Rider John W. Green for the moro kris style sword and sends his regards.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-20
President Roosevelt just received the sword from Kentarō Kaneko, and he thanks Baron Komura for sending it to him. He congratulates Komura on all the work he has done to achieve peace and sends him a photograph.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-10
President Roosevelt heartily thanks Yogoro Matsumoto for gifting him a sword by the famous sword-maker Munemitsu of Jakushu. He accepts it under the “Bushido” philosophy wherein, “the sword must never be drawn save with justice and never sheathed save with honor.” Roosevelt expresses his interest in the history of Japan, and feels that “the great civilized nations of the world can each teach and each can learn from the others.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-16
President Roosevelt gives Secretary of War Taft his thoughts on several weapons used in the military, saying especially that he believes “that ramrod bayonet about as poor an invention as I ever saw.” Roosevelt wishes officers could carry rifles, but if they must carry swords, Roosevelt believes “it ought to be a sword that can do damage.” Roosevelt also requests the opinions of Captain Peyton Conway March and officers in the Philippines about bayonets and swords.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-04
President Roosevelt is pleased that Governor Durbin will be presenting a sword to Admiral Taylor, “one of the most efficient officers in the entire Navy.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-02-20
The books on Africa that Victor Geza Fischer had hoped to give to President Roosevelt have been delayed, but he promises to send them once they have arrived. In the meantime, Fischer sends Roosevelt a Japanese sword as a Christmas present, and thanks Roosevelt for the gift he sent to him, as well as for the sentiment with which it was sent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-24
United States Minister to Japan Griscom tells President Roosevelt that in accordance with Secretary of State John Hay’s instructions he is returning the letters that Roosevelt had written to Yogoro Matsumoto declining to accept an offered sword. Griscom regrets that Roosevelt’s letters cannot be made public, as he feels that they would have produced an excellent effect in Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-12
Major General Gillespie informs William Loeb that Arthur von Briesen could not give a citation for the story dealing with the presentation of a sword to George Washington by King Frederick II of Prussia, and admits “that the ‘pretty story’ has been completely exploded.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-20
J. G. Rosengarten cites a book by Friedrich Kapp to General Gillespie with information that he believes dismisses the myth that Frederick II, King of Prussia, sent a sword to George Washington as a gift. He will report any further information he discovers on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-19
Arthur von Briesen responds to Major General G. L. Gillespie’s request for further information on Briesen’s statement that he had gotten his facts regarding a sword supposedly gifted by King Frederick II of Prussia to George Washington from Mr. Ward. He has since come to believe that the story may be rather different, based on a book by Friedrich Kapp which says that the sword came from the sword-maker Theophilus Alte of Solingen. This is further reinforced by a letter from Washington to John Quincy Adams.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-19
Major-General Gillespie sends William Loeb a memorandum reporting on some of his findings regarding a sword supposedly given as a gift from Frederick II, King of Prussia, to President George Washington. Taking all the evidence together, Gillespie believes that “there is no authority for the statement that Frederick the Great made any kind of a present to General Washington,” but promises to transmit any additional information that may be found.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-18
James W. Cheney, Librarian of the War Department, presents some of his findings to Major General Gillespie regarding the reported gift of a sword from Frederick II, King of Prussia, to George Washington. The relevant papers would be located in the collections of the Library of Congress, but they are not indexed which makes the search more difficult. Cheney cites a number of related exhibits, and says that if Gillespie wishes, the War Department Library will conduct further research on the topic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-17