---
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: 2
number: 5
published: 1899-03
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: The Philippine Problem,\" *Improvement Era* 2, no. 5 (March 1899): 381–382."
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera25unse
  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: improvementera25unse
start_page: 381
end_page: 382
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1899-03)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera25unse
  publication_year: 1899
  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 1899, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Editor’s Table: The Philippine Problem

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EDITOR^S TABLE.
THE PHILIPPINE PROBLEM.
If the American people a few months ago could have seen
as clearly as they now see the effects of taking possession of the
Philippine Islands, it is doubtful if the event would have been
hailed with such universal joy as it was. Not that we would
detract from the glory of Admiral Dewey's achievement on that
memorable 1st day of May, 1898. The glory of that victory will
never fade. It will be a matter of pride [and an inspiration to
Americans through 'all [the throng of the ages. But it is quite
likely that there will always be a deep regret that after completely
destroying the Spanish fleet the American ^Admiral did not sail
away without so much as looking fback. Of course it is to be
admitted that we do not yet know all the obligations Admiral
Dewey felt himself under to the Insurgents on the Philippine
Islands; but if there'' were no obligations directly entered into or
that could be reasonably implied on the part of the Insurgents
—
then it is truly to be regretted that Manila Bay was not as suddenly deserted by our war ships as it had been entered by them.
By taking that course surely we would have been rid of many perplexing problems which will now doubtless exist to plague us for
some time to come.
As matters now stand, the American fleet remaining and with
the co-operation of the land forces having taking possession of the
city of Manila, and dispossessing the Spaniards of the government of
the islands—our government unquestionably stands responsible to

<!-- page:382 -->

the civilized world for the maintenance of order and good government in the Philippines. And this responsibility is emphasized by
the United States Senate's ratification of the treaty of peace formulated at Paris by the American and Spanish Commissioners. That
treaty was ratified by the Senate on the 6th of February by a
vote of fifty-seven to twenty-seven; and by that act—provided the
Spanish Cortes also ratifies the treaty on the part of the Spanish
government, concerning which no doubts can be entertained—the
government of the United States becomes still more directly
responsible for the preservation of order and good government in
the Philippines; for now—that is as soon as the Spanish government gets through with the formality of ratifying the treaty—the
Philippines are the possessions of the United States, and future
American statesmanship must of necessity provide either for their
permanent retention as part of the territory of the United States,
or else make some suitable disposition of them.
It is just this that will perplex our people and very likely
divide them on the question of policy to be pursued with reference to these new possessions. The most likely disposition of
them will be the formation of a Philippine Republic under the
protectorate of the United States, to be followed by indemnification to our government for the expense incurred in coming into
possession of the islands; but ultimate and absolute independence
of the Philippine Republic, with no further ties connecting it with
the United States of America than those dictated by a grateful
remembrance of the part we took in bringing to pass their freedom
and independence.
THE PROMPTER.
Apropos the articles on agnosticism which have appeared
of late in the Era we chance to remember that some years ago, at
a banquet, we believe, Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll in speaking of
the late Lawrence Barrett, said:
" In the drama of life we are all actors, and no one knows his part.
No prompter's voice is heard and none knows what the next scene is to