United States territories and possessions

Governor-General of the Philippines Smith provides his analysis of the upcoming formal establishment of the Philippine Assembly to Secretary of War Taft. This includes a brief description of the history and political affiliations of the country’s governors, the party leanings of each province, and the number of votes for each party from the most recent election. Smith also reflects on how the United States can improve upon Spain to ensure better relations with the Philippines. Smith considers self-government to be the ultimate goal of American involvement in the Philippines, but cautions that granting independence too quickly could leave the country vulnerable to dictatorships or foreign invasion. Smith ends the letter with a report on the status of various government projects across the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-07

Creator(s)

Smith, James Francis, 1859-1928

Program for the unveiling of a bronze tablet on the campus of Marietta College commemorating the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory. Includes several illustrations, the inscription on the tablet, and a description of the ceremony, which included the unveiling by Alice Roosevelt Longworth and a speech by Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-18

Creator(s)

Unknown

Ambassador Reid has forwarded President Roosevelt’s letter to the people of Salisbury, and he is sure it will promote kindly feeling. Reid hopes that they may be able to bring the “slow-moving” Colonial Office to an early agreement, as the only currently contentious issue between the parties is that of purse-nets. Reports of William Jennings Bryan’s speech in Madison Square Garden produced instant revulsion in Great Britain, as the public thought he “dished” himself by proposing government ownership of the railways. Reid has not yet had a chance to discuss Roosevelt’s letter to Andrew Carnegie with Sir Edward Grey, but plans to bring it up at first chance. Frederick Scott Oliver, author of the new book about Hamilton, does not seem to be a prominent literary figure among the Englishmen Reid has asked. Reid has been watching the Cuban situation with great anxiety, as he has always believed the United States made foolish decisions about Cuba at the beginning of the Spanish-American War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-14

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

David Jessup Doherty provides Governor Taft with an explanation for Archbishop John Mary Harty’s letter to Governor Henry C. Ide. Doherty says that a last minute obstacle in the lease of the San Juan de Dios hospital caused Harty to be in such a mood as to write the way he did. Doherty further urges Taft to require that Commissioners go in person to disturbed districts, as Ide has done in Leyte. The most frequent complaint Doherty hears among Filipinos is that they get no chance at administrative work, and he hopes more bureau directorships will be given to Filipinos. Doherty tells Taft that he need not be concerned about politics in the Philippines, as the real worry is about economics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-29

Creator(s)

Doherty, David Jessup, 1850-1908

Senator Lodge responds to statements made by Charles Francis Adams and discusses the advancement of societies that have been under or are currently under the possession of the United States. Lodge agrees with Adams about the important role white societies have in helping non-white societies “advance.” Lodge disagrees, however, with Adams’s assessment of Secretary of War William H. Taft, who Lodge says has not at all exploited the Philippines, but actually devoted many years of his life to help “elevate” the people of the Philippines. Lodge ends by commenting that the administration has also been trying to “take charge” of the Dominican Republic to help them pay their debts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-01

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Attorney General Moody writes President Roosevelt regarding charges against Judge Grosscup. He also refers to the investigation of Judge Kohlsaat.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-16

Creator(s)

Moody, William H. (William Henry), 1853-1917

W. S. Smith requests Dennis Thomas Flynn’s presence in Oklahoma Territory as soon as possible. He also states that Frank C. Frantz has wired the President to hold up land appointments until he can be consulted. Frantz and Bird S. McGuire are trying to control everything.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-15

Creator(s)

Smith, W. S.

Corinne Roosevelt Robinson thanks President Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt for “those two happy evenings” spent at the White House the previous week and for sending a copy of the inauguration speech. Since speaking with Roosevelt, Robinson has heard even more discouraging news about Colonel Crane in Puerto Rico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-02

Creator(s)

Robinson, Corinne Roosevelt, 1861-1933

A “Filipino” points at President Roosevelt as Alton B. Parker holds “the Constitution of the United States” and points to the “Declaration of Independence.” There is a sign on the wall that reads, “Independence political and territorial—I also favor making the promise to them now to take such action as soon as it can be prudently done. Alton B. Parker.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-27

Creator(s)

Bush, Charles Green, 1842-1909

President Roosevelt hands “Congress” three balls and points at the toys labeled “corrupt politics,” “island possessions,” “labor questions,” “waterways,” “legislative obstructions,” “disease microbes,” “national waste,” “swollen fortunes,” “dishonest wealth,” “unjust judges,” “inadequate wages,” and “inheritance tax.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-09

The writer defends American policy and duty in the Philippines. Cost is not a factor that should be considered when duty is involved and the purpose of the Spanish-American War was not to earn money.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-18

Creator(s)

Unknown

Secretary of War Taft defends American rule in the Philippines. He states that the islands will be held for the benefit of the Filipinos but that this situation can also be economically beneficial to the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-21

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

“E. X. Rays” defends the legitimacy of the American led civil government of the Philippines and believes that President Roosevelt will continue William McKinley’s policies and bring prosperity to the islands.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-09-28

Creator(s)

Rays, E. X.

Theodore Roosevelt tells former territorial governor of Hawaii George Robert Carter that he agrees with George W. Perkins that the delegates should be given to Hawaii and to the other territories.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt praises former President William McKinley for leading the nation through several crises with virtue. Roosevelt compares McKinley to Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Grant, Jefferson, and Jackson, all of whom Roosevelt notes have left long-standing legacies in the American memory. Roosevelt traces McKinley’s service to the United States from his commission in the Union Army during the Civil War, through his time in Congress and governorship of Ohio, before becoming President of the United States. McKinley helped the country move through a period of financial depression, as well as the Spanish-American War and the subsequent issues arising from having claimed new island territories. Roosevelt closes by noting that McKinley’s assassination shocked the nation, but that he died “in the golden fullness of his triumph,” and that his example lives on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt praises former President William McKinley for leading the nation through several crises with virtue. Roosevelt compares McKinley to Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Grant, Jefferson, and Jackson, all of whom Roosevelt notes have left long-standing legacies in the American memory. Roosevelt traces McKinley’s service to the United States from his commission in the Union Army during the Civil War, through his time in Congress and governorship of Ohio, before becoming President of the United States. McKinley helped the country move through a period of financial depression, as well as the Spanish-American War and the subsequent issues arising from having claimed new island territories. Roosevelt closes by noting that McKinley’s assassination shocked the nation, but that he died “in the golden fullness of his triumph,” and that his example lives on for the nation. This is a press copy of the speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Whitelaw Reid addresses the Republican Club about the responsibility of governing island nations such as Cuba and the Philippines. He argues that once the United States takes military action they have a duty to protect the new territories.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912