--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 1 number: 7 published: 1898-05 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, \"Editor's Table,\" *Improvement Era* 1, no. 7 (May 1898): 519–531." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera17unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera17unse start_page: 519 end_page: 531 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1898-05) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera17unse publication_year: 1898 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1898, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Editor's Table EDITOR'S TABLE. THE WAR WITH SPAIN. Red Battle stamps his foot, and nations feel the shock. —Byron. A State of war exists between the United States and the kingdom of Spain. In the early morning hours of the 19th of April, after anall night session, the American congress passed the following conjoint preamble and resolutions: WHEREAS, The abhorrent conditions which have existed for more than three years in the island of Cuba, so near our own borders, have shocked the moral sense of the people of the United States, have been a disgrace to Christian civilization, culminating as they have, in the destruc- tion of a United States battleship and 266 of its officers and crew, while on a friendly visit in the harbor of Havana, and cannot longer be endured, as has been set forth by the president of the United States in his message to congress of April 11, 1898, upon which the action of congress was invited, therefore, RESOLVED, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled: FIRST — That the people of the island of Cuba are and of right ought to be free and independent. SECOND — That it is the duty of the United States to demand, and the government of the United States does hereby demand, that the govern- ment of Spain at once relinquish its authority and government in the island of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters. THIRD — That the president of the United States be and he hereby is directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States, and to call into the actual service of the United States the militia of the several states to the extent as may be necessary to carry these resolutions into effect. FOURTH — That the United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over said island, except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination when that is accomplished, to leave the government and control of the island to its people. These resolutions were signed by President McKinley on the morning of the 20th of April and by that act were given the force of law. President McKinley at the time he signed the resolutions passed by congress, also signed an ultimatum to Spain giving that government until Saturday noon, April 23rd, Washington time, in which to signify its willingness to comply with the demands of the government of the United States. Thus as we go to press the question of Peace or War is left entirely m the hands of Spain. What course will she pursue is the all important question. As we view the matter at this writing there lies before Spain four courses she may follow: 1. Acting by herself, and recognizing the superior strength of the United States, and being unable to secure the assistance of any European power to support her against the action of our government, she may reasonably yield to that superior strength, without war, and with what grace she may command, abandon Cuba. 2. She may appeal to the great powers of Europe for advice; and if they, recognizing the justice of the course of our government, counsel acceptance of the decree issued by the United States, she may abandon Cuba under color of yielding to the advice of European powers, rather than at the demand of the United States. 3. She may make a show of resistance by declaring war, or by resisting our invading force to drive her army from Cuba; make a vigorous attack upon the vulnerable points on our Atlantic sea-board, prey upon our commerce, and at the first disaster that overtakes her, yield to superior force and accept the terms of our government. 4. Yielding to the frenzy of mistaken patriotism, and historic pride, she may undertake war in real earnest, stake all upon the issue, and fight until unable to resist longer. The first, though dictated by the spirit of prudence and — commended by reason, would most likely besides being too — humiliating to Spanish pride result in a revolution in Spain that would drive the present government from power, and EDITOR 'S TABLE. 621 the young king and the queen regent into exile. Should the second course be elated it would have in it, so far as appear- ance would go, at least, less humiliation, and doubtless secure from the powers whose advice was followed a guaran- tee of the perpetuation of the reigning dynasty. The third course would gratify the pride of Spain, satisfy, perhaps, the war party at home, and be most likely to secure the reigning dynasty in the possession of its throae, though nothing but a successful war against the United States would make that possession absolutely secure. Nothing but desperation born of despair would dictate the fourth course, and it is the least likely to be followed, unless the gods have indeed de- termined upon the destruction of Spain, and hence first make her mad. In our judgment the third course is the one that will be followed by the present government of Spain, and hence we regard war as inevitable. And though undertaken with no hope or prospect of modifying the demands of our govern- ment, but merely to gratify the pride of Spain, and reduce the probability of a revolution within the ancient kingdom to a minimum — that war may be a more serious matter than is gen- erally expected. Nothing is made by underestimating the strength of an adversary, and while there can be no question as to the final result, Spain may give a good account of herself in the opening weeks of the war, and make it plain by win- ning temporary advantages on our Atlantic coast and preying upon our commerce, how illy prepared our country was for war, even with Spain. * * * THE ISSUES INVOLVED. It is gratifying to know that in the issues involved our country is wholly right. It is not a war undertaken for conquest, the extension of commerce, the gratification of military pride or prowess; nor is it waged to save a tottering throne from falling, or to sustain a corrupt government in ques- tionable policies. On the contrary the course of the United States is pursued in the interests of humanity and the exten- sion of freedom. It is dictated by a desire to put an end to a most inhuman war waged by Spain against the Cuban In- surgents, whom she can neither conquer by war, nor induce to accept the forms of government suggested by her diplomacy. The government of the United States, recognizing the respon- sibility that attends upon the exalted position it occupies among the nations of the western hemisphere, and among the nations of the whole earth, demands that the abhorrent conditions which have existed for more than three years in Cuba shall cease. And when it is remembered that Spanish misrule during more than half a century has kept Cuba in a state of revolution and war about half that time; that the in- human policy pursued in the war that has now been going on for the last three years has resulted in the death and misery of tens of thousands of non-combatants; that it has destroyed millions of dollars worth of property owned by citizens of the United States; that it has practically swept out of existence an extensive commerce between Cuba and the United States; that it has destroyed a United States battleship and two hundred and sixty-six of its officers and crew, while on a friendly visit in the harbor of Havana — when all this is remembered, the patience and forbearance of our government will be a matter of astonishment among all enlightened nations. And when it is further remembered that now, when forbearance ceases longer to be a virtue, all intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over Cuba, further than for the pacification thereof, is positively dis- claimed; and the determination expressed that when Cuba's pacification is achieved it is the intention of the United States to leave the government and control of the island to its people — the course of our government must chal- lenge the admiration of the whole world. If fierce war ensues, whatever misfortunes it may bring to us, we shall always have the satisfaction of knowing that on the part of the United States it is waged in the interest of humanity, and for the ex- tension of those principles of liberty on which our own gov- ernment is based, to other people. * * * * UTAH'S DUTY. The outbreak of this war finds the people of Utah occu- EDITOR'S TABLE. 528 pying a different relationship to the government of the United States than they occupied when war clouds last settled down upon the nation and fell destruction laid waste life and treasure. Utah was then a territory, and as such her sons were not liable to be drafted into the armies of the government. And what was a more effective barrier to our participation in that un- happy war was that we were separated from the scene of con- flict by more than a thousand miles of desert and wilderness. We were a young and small community, and it was doubtless thought we would do well if we preserved our community from the attacks of Indian tribes. It is, however, a matter to be proud of that Utah was loyal to the government of the United States during the war of the Rebellion; and that not- withstanding our territorial condition, our isolation from the scene of conflict, and the youth of our community, the services of her people were tendered through Brigham Young to President Lincoln and the task of guarding the United States mail route in the west from Indian attacks was assigned to Utah. Now, however, conditions have changed. The thousand miles of -desert and wilderness have disappeared; a number of lines of railroad bring us within three or four days of the Atlantic sea board; statehood has come to Utah and with it not only its advantages, but its duties and responsibilities; among them the duty of upholding the hands of the govern- ment in the wars which those who administer its affairs may decide to be necessary to decree. Utah is one of the sovereign states of the American Union; and henceforth must bear her part alike in peace and war and follow the fortunes of the nation of which she is an integral part. She may not escape those responsibilities and duties if she would, and we believe she would not if she could. . It is conceded that war is a terrible calamity; that in very under- deed it ought to be the last resort of any nation, and justice taken only when every other means for establishing exhausted. and maintaining honor have been thoroughly means have failed; when injustice, oppres- But when all other chief characteristics sion and murderous cruelty become the ot a nation as is now the case with Spain; when her barbari- . 534 IMPR O VEMENT ERA ties fall upon non-combatants as well as upon those who resist her oppressions; when she brazenly pursues a course in spite of all protests that shocks the moral sense of civilization and is a disgrace to an age even called Christian; when the course she pursues makes her an unsafe neighbor, threatens our own peace, destroys our commerce and even the property and lives of our own people —then not to employ war to put a per- iod to her atrocities, all other means having failed to make her amenable to reason, would be a crime, an act of national cowardice too contemptible to think of with patience, and such as no self-respecting nation could be guilty of much less the United States, who though loving peace, has never yet shirked the dread responsibilities of war when justice, honor, and a righteous cause have compelled her to unsheath the sword of the Great Republic. By the time the Era is in the hands of its readers, the call for volunteers may be issued and Utah's quota of that number known. In that event let us hope, and indeed we feel assured, that her sons will not be less ready to offer their services to the government of the United States than are the sons of other sovereign states of the Union. Nowhere should the sentiment prevail that Utah's sons ought not to tender their services to the government. It becomes a duty, a patriotic duty for them to do so. It would be puerile to take any other stand than that. It would be an unworthy senti- ment to entertain that would lead a community to accept the advantages granted by so glorious a government as ours, and then in the hour of her need not tender her their lives and fortunes to sustain her; and especially in so righteous a cause as that which now impells the United States to the adoption of warlike measures. But Utah will be found patriotic. From the mountain valleys of the youngest of the states will march young men who will make as good soldiers as ever went to battle. Their manner of life, at once temperate and of a character to inure them to the hardships and toil of camp life, and the fatigue of long sustained conflict, together with their intelligence, will make them valuable soldiers who bring honor to our Utah. EDITOR'S TABLE. 525 THE TEST OF A BOOK. In a recent number of Harper's New Monthly Magazine is a valuable criticism on trashy literature given in the form of a dialogue between a Scribe, by which, we suppose, is meant a writer of books, and the General Reader. In the course of the dialogue occurs the following: Scribe. Did you ever think, my friend, what an awful responsibility it is to attempt to feed the human mind? wonder sometimes that any- I body dares to print a line I shudder to think of the escapes I have made. General Reader. Well,*that doesn't tell me anything. The critics talk about style and tendency and one thing and another, and then I read a book, and like it or don't like it. That is the end of it for me. Scribe. No, it isn't. I'll tell you one test of a book that the critics do not always mention. Do you ever think what is the effect of a book on your mind? When it has "settled," and you have a clear view of it, and can see how it has affected you? Is your mind purer for it, or clearer? Has it filled your mind with good or bad images? Has it raised your tone or lowered it? General Reader. Commonly it doesn't do anything of the kind. Scribe. Then you are a gone case. If your mind has got so that a book does not affect it, you have no mind to speak of. But no one is in that state. Every book that you read and understand affects you for better or worse. It has some effect upon you, and if you are sane, you are bound to find what that is. General Reader. But I read a lot just for information —about life, for instance. Scribe. You are partly right about that. Then get out the informa- tion as information. A large part of our reading is for information. Only keep your mind in your own control, sift out what you need, and then otherwise judge the book by its effect on you. A good and effective test this, truly; and one, we fear, too much neglected in these days of indiscriminate book-buying and book reading; and we commend it to the attention of our readers ^^ Do you ever think what is the effect of a book on your mind? * * * Is your mind purer for it, or clearer? Has it filled your mind with good or bad images? Has it raised your standard or lowered it?'' * * * A propos the foregoing, we desire to call the attention of our young men to the Book of Mormon, and ask them to read it and apply this test proposed by the writer in Harper's. Judge it by the effect it produces upon your mind; judge if it leaves your mind purer and clearer for having read it; judge if it has filled your mind with good or bad images; if it has raised — or lowered your moral or spiritual standard. Submit it to this test, and we feel sure that you will esteem this New World volume of scripture the more for having done so. We are sure it will endure the test. We have gone to it in the midst of despondency, and have come away cheered; we have gone to it in sorrow, and have come away from it comforted; we have gone to it at times overwhelmed for a moment by the mists which the speculations of men sometimes threw over truth, and have come away from it enlightened — with faith and hope and charity renewed. It creates around one a pure atmosphere of faith in God; in its presence Doubt takes wings and is borne away. Its moral and spiritual standards are the highest and noblest. The fire of its patriotism burns brightly. If in its historical parts it deals with events that exhibit self- ishness, unholy ambition, and all the follies and crimes com- mon to all nations and races of men, it never does so in a manner to blazon evil deeds or consecrate crime, much less in a manner to canonize the vicious. In its pages one sees things in their true light; there is no shuffling; but evil deeds receive their proper condemnation in the simple, straight- forward language of inspired men. And it is so refreshing oh, so restful, this simple style of the Nephite prophets! that one goes to it, when once made conscious of its powers to rest the mind, to cheer the heart, to uplift the soul — one goes to it as the lame and blind and sick would go to some clear fountain of water to which an angel of God had imparted healing virtues. Yes, test the value of the Book of Mormon test its truth — by its effect upon the mind. — And confident in the result of the trial, we ask "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" "Doth a corrupt fountain send forth impure streams?" Does a book conceived in fraud, and brought forth to deceive beget a faith so confident, a hope so clear, a charity so pure, a spirituality so ennobling as does this book? GAMBLING. A correspondent recently submitted to the Era a num- ber of question upon the subject of gambling. It would re- quire too much space to answer the questions seriatim; but in answer to the question, "Is gambling condemned by the Bible," and upon the subject of gambling in general we offer the following: We call to mind nothing in holy writ that expressly in- terdicts gambling, so that we cannot say that it is either a EDITOR'S TABLE. 527 vice or a crime specified as such by revelation. Still, gam- bling is very generally regarded as immoral conduct, and society finds ample evidence of that fact in the results grow- ing out of it. Men who engage in gambling frequently insist that there is little or no difference between gaming and much that goes under the name of business, and with that specious sophistry some of our young men seek to hush the cries of conscience. A young friend said the other day in defense of gambling: "You go to an establishment where gambling is going on; you see there a possibility to make money; the chances may not be quite as many in your favor as those in favor of the establishment conducting the business, but you nevertheless see there is a chance and such as it is you take it. Some- times you win and sometimes you lose; you take the risk of that. If you win you are prosperous and if you lose you have but done what thousands — do daily in business you fail. The man engaged in business looks over the ground of his contemplated enterprise; he observes the favorable and unfavorable probabilities; and finally acts. He takes his chances just as the gambler does; sometimes he is successful, sometimes he fails; and in his success or his failure the same results follow as when the gambler suc- ceeds or fails. As much poverty and wretchedness to family and dependent friends or relatives follow a business failure as attend "going broke" in gaming; as many men sink into despair and commit suicide through busi- ness failures as through losing at the gambling tables. Now, what is the difference, and why is not one just as honorable and moral as the other?" In the first place our answer is that in business, men en- gage generally in the legitimate affairs of life, in something that produces commodities, or that distributes them, and afiects in some way or other production, trade or commerce; and whilst risks are nearly always connected in business ventures they are usually such as may be weighed by the judgment and provisions made against them by caution, industry and attention. So that business is not an af- fair of chance. On the contrary its results may usually be anticipated with great exactness, and it affects the industrial and commercial world favorably. Nothing of this is true in respect to gambling. It deals in nothing that affects favor- ably the legitimate affairs of life. It produces nothing; it moves nothing, it does not influence for good the industrial world. It is either a matter purely of chance against which no judg- ment, industry or caution can do anything, or it is a gigantic swindle, which exists to the detriment and great danger of the simple-minded. It is needless to say that we are of the opinion that it is usually a swindling scheme to catch the un- wary; for the games are so arranged that the chances are three and four to one, and sometimes ten to one, and fifty to one, in favor of those conducting them. It is a matter altogether out- side of the legitimate affairs of life. It is not an industry by any means, but an arbitrary scheme of chance created to benefit a desperate element in society to the injury of the simple. Our friend is wrong also when he states that as many men sink into despair and commit suicide through business failures as through losses at the gaming tables. Take into account the number of men engaged in business life and the sucides that result from complications and failures, and com- pare them with the percentage of suicides among gamblers, and we do not hesitate to say that the former will be found insignificant in comparison with the latter. This must be so from the very nature of things. The man who fails in business, unless that failure results from dishonesty, has his character left, his reputation, his business experience, and may hope to rebuild the fortunes which disaster threw down. But the gambler who fails has nothing of this to support him. He is conscious he has no respectable standing in society. The known gambler is everywhere distrusted and is a marked man in society and business circles. His pursuit of gambling has robbed him of all inclinations to honest endeavor that calls for toil or careful pains-taking; he feels himself unfitted for the stern affairs of life; the strumpet. Chance, has gone against him; nothing is left him, and he throws away his life. At Monte Carlo it is estimated that there is a suicide for every day of the gambling season. There gambling reaches its highest refinment, and it is supposed to be conducted on the fairest principles possible to gambling; yet this is the result! But not all the result, for wealth is drawn thither from the uttermost parts of the earth, and sacrificed, along with character and good name, for the benefit of a shrewd, fatten- ing horde of private speculators. The proprietors netting several millions of dollars a year in dividends. In conclusion let us say, that although nothing may be found in holy writ which expressly condemns gambling, yet something is due to the enlightened sentiment of mankind on a question of morals, especially when that sentiment is based upon an extensive experience, as it is in the verdict against gamblmg. This is its verdict even when gambling is carried on in its most respectable phases, how much more just is that verdict when applied to the common dives of our larger cities so frequently run. under the name of club-rooms, where out- right trickery and fraud are practiced, and the unwary robbed? Society has never been too harsh in its denunciation of these dens of infamy, and young men who are tempted to enter them will do well to pause before crossing the thresh- hold and ask if they can afford to sacrifice reputation and standing in society to gratify a mere passion for play which means ruin in the end, even if successful. Cannot our young men see then even if successful it must be a losing game? EDITOR'S TABLE. 529 NOTES. "Reading has this great advantage over conversation, that we can always select our companions, and obtain such as are accessible in no other way. Nor need we restrict our- selves to the society of the living, but may listen to the best thoughts of the best minds of every age." "He IS A VERY wise and sagacious man who has learned to test and try his beliefs, so as to hold them with more or less tenacity, according to their probability. indeed one of It is the marks of a man's intelligence and culture when he modi- fies his expressions of assurance to the degree in which they maybe justified." •if. % 1(i i(i "All Censure, however justly merited, is most efficient when preceded or accompanied by praise and appreciation that can be sincerely given. The pleasant relations thus es- tablished, and tjie pleasai^t feefings^thus awakened, form the' best safeguard against resentment^ and afford a powerful mo- five to retain the esteem' ol the faithful well-wiahen" ,' * 33» oJ asfil * * * "It is generally wiser to concentrate our thoughts upon one particular pursuit than to allow them to wander from one subject to another without aiiy definite ^Offeject' in ^\^J^^^ great many have failed to achieve success because they have not been thorough in the work attempted. Whatever we start f6'ii' r,.';? io^ v *i^In our fond attachment to the idea of independence we 40 forget how very little there really is of it in the world. Boast as we may of being self-centered and free from control, there isnot one among us who is not dependent upon others for much that he has, and is, and does. Especially is this true as regards character and conduct. Those with whom we mingle are constantly moulding us into mental and moral forms resembling their own, and no possible effort or deter- mination on our part can prevent it." "To Recognize the true limits of one's power and to work faithfully within those limits, is a far more clear, definite, and hopeful condition than to close the eyes to real obstacles and attempt the impossible. A few sincere convictions gained by intelligent toil and research, and a great deal of honost doubt in other quarters, are far better than the unthinking and con- fident assurances that deal only with certainties and find no room for suspense or consideration. For, as Bishop Butler says, "To us probability is the very guide of life." * * * * "To Understand How to Rest is of more importance than to know how to work. The latter can be learned easily; the former it takes years to learn, and some people never learn the art of resting. It is simply a change of scene and activities. "Loafing" may not be resting. Sleeping is not always resting. Sitting down for days with nothing to do is not restful. A change is needed to bring into play a differ- ent set of faculties, and to turn life into a new channel. The man who works hard finds his best rest in playing hard. The man who is burdened with care finds relief in something that is active yet free from responsibility." * * * * "Self Blame is often awarded in a crude and unjust man- ner, from the present rather than the past standard. Just as we often misjudge others by not appreciating their point of view, so are we sometimes unjust to our own past selves by estimating them according to our present mental attitude. For example, a year, a month, even a week ago we may have done something with good intentions and with entire self- approval. Meanwhile we have grown a little in moral stature. EDITOR 'S TABLE. 531 and would not now approve it or do it. Here is no cause for self-reproach. We may be glad that we see more clearly or feel more keenly; but it is not what we think of the act now, but what we thought of it then, that should form the basis of our judgment." * 5|! * ;(: "Lying is too often treated locally," says a contemporary, "when it should be constitutionally treated. There are almost as many different sorts of lies as there are different sorts of fevers. For example, exaggeration which comes from excess of imagination is to be cured by teaching accuracy of observa- tion. Make the child count all the objects in the room. Make him hold steadily to proven facts in everything. Then there is the lie of egotism, which is always claiming everything for itself. Ignore the story. Make it seem not worth his while. The lie which denies is the fault of other people. Punish- ment has been given arbitrarily. That is to be corrected in the guardian. The hardest fault to correct in a child, or in any one else, is the deep lie of jealousy, the malicious lie. It always comes from jealousy, and seems to be difficult to remedy." * * * * "To TONE up the system and refresh the wearied mind we need seasons of blessed abandonment, of entire freedom, where every care is thrown off and every burden dropped, and mind and body have the chance to recover from their fatigue and regain their wonted power and elasticity. It is not a new set of diversions that is needed for this good purpose. Al- most every one now in vogue can be followed in such a way as to secure it, or in such a way as to frustrate it. All games and sports, the concert and the theater, friendly converse and the social gathering, the dance or the interesting volume, maybe used in so simple, so moderate, so healthful a way as to ensure true recreation and invigoration; or they may be made the means of labor, burdensome care, excitement, fatiguing strain, and wearing risk. The question which it shall be is no light or trifling matter, but one worthy of the grave consideration of all who desire to be self-respecting and valuable members of the community."