Show VOICE OF THE PRESS the course of empire kansas city star bishop Berke leys famous line westward the course of empire takes its way has recently come to mean vastly more than was dreamed of by its famous author it Is doubtful whether his vision of more than years ago embraced more than the great and powerful nation that was to rise on this continent his declaration times noblest offspring is the last has been fully realized in the marvelous development of the united states having reached the pacific in its movement across the continent it might have been supposed that the onward sweep of civilization had come to its limit but in the occupation of the philippines by the united states a great forward stride has been taken the course of empire keeps on its westward way and the vision appears of american civilization developing the philippines crossing the china sea into those ancient realms which have been awaiting the touch of enterprise for centuries Is this the real significance of the american occupation of the philippine islands does it mean that the course of empire has swept around the globe and is now about to transform the hoary nations of the orient that have swept while progress has been marching on in europe and america it is a application to make of the often quoted line of the poet but it a fact that the course of empire Is still moving westward and Is beginning to maka new conditions in the pacific islands and in the vast chinese empire which for centuries has remained unchanged in all its aspects Is this irresistible westward movement dominated now by american influence to transform china to plant modern civilization there and revolutionize the mongolian race this is manifest destiny carried to its utmost limit but who shall say that it is not the inevitable result of that tremendous movement which starting in the cradle of the race gradually transformed first western asia then europe and crossing the atlantic ocean has created the most powerful nation of the world on a continent that was a wilderness only a little more than a century ago Is it to still sweep on to the westward over the ancient realms of asia THE INFLUENCE OF suggestion kansas city times that one case of self destruction will shortly be followed by others in the same community has long been an axiom in police circles this dependence pen dence of one tragedy upon another has called forth many explanations the one most generally accepted by the medical profession being that of the influence ot suggestion when one human being has his love of life and horror of death overcome by the troubles which compass him about and rushes headlong into the embrace of death he exerts an influence upon one or more fellow beings which they have not the power of will to resist i it may be that the persons influenced to make an end of their earthly existence have never known the being whose rash example they follow the example baa bad its effect nevertheless it to mature the halt formed resolve to quit the certain sorrows of earth which appear no longer bearable tor the uncertain unseen and unknown beyond the theory of suggestion us the cause of many suicides is strengthened by the fact that one suicide frequently refers to another that has preceded him in the letters he leaves behind A striking instance of this Is still fresh in the minds of the people of kansas city it would appear that there are people looking longingly toward many the untried realms beyond the who stand with trembling hand graat whether to tear the veil hesitating S who need only the stimulus of more rash or more the example of one leaps than themselves to cause them to act left by those who have committed suicide in many instances have revealed the fact that for weeks they hesitated and at last with the story of an others self destruction before them reproached themselves for their cowardice until they mustered sufficient desperate courage to send a bullet to a vital spot or drain a death dealing draught the theory that only the mentally unbalanced commit suicide Is held to be untenable by those who have made a study of cases of self that men perfectly sane in the full possession of all their faculties tako their own lives Is not now questioned by the medical profession the coolness the deliberation the method with which men of strong mind men of culture and refinement have gone about the ushering of their own souls into the presence of their maker eludes the theory of insanity |