Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-24
woRCE ER
THURSDAY. AUGUST "a, 1871.
Tho Annex ON Corcn.

an attack on Corean forts, and considerable
number of the people were killed. The insul
being still unavenged, the attack was rencwe,
on the 10th and 18th of June, when mucl
larger number of Coreans were destroyed
about 300, it is said, besides the wounded. The
loss on our side was comparatively very slight
Whether the insult is now properly avenged, is
by no means clear. Our men, by means Of
their superior armament, were able to knock
some of the Corean forts to pieces, and kill a
large number of the people, without mourning
to much extent, the usual hazards of battle
But the Coreans were neither conquered nor won
TO the desired mood. On the contrary, they were
simply maddened, and are now thousand times
more likely to insult the American flag than be-
fore; and Admiral Rogers is not likely to in
trude another hostile surveying party into for
hidden Corean waters. Nothing whatever has
been gained, while much that might have been
gained by other means, has been made impossi-
ble We confess frankly that we find it impos-
sible to see either glory or wisdom in this method
of avenging insults. If it is all right, some of
the noblest promptings of our Christian civili-
cation, must be all wrong.
In our Judgment, it is not certain that there
was grave insult to be avenged, or to be dealt
with in any way. We should like to hear the
Coreans state their side of the case; but, the re-
port of Admiral Rogers, and the various COM
munications describing what took place, enables
us to conjecture how they would state it. Ac-
eording to these sources of information, the
facts are as follows. On the first of June, Adj
miral Rogers, having reached the coast of Corea,
sent out an expedition to survey the channels,
rivers, and harbors. This was not necessary to
the purpose for which he went there, and it was
done without consent of the Corean govern
ment. As the vessels of the surveying expedi
ton approached a narrow passage leading to
the inner waters, they were fired upon from the
forts. This was the insult to the American
flag. Probably the CoreanS would say that en-
tering that passage, together with the whole
surveying expedition itself from beginning to
end was an insult to their flag, because it defed
and violated the rules and regulations of their
government. Doubtless they would claim that
sending out the surveying party was a hostile
movement which courted and provoked col
lison. And we are bound to hear candidly
what can be said on their side unless it be as
sumed, that Coreans, japanese, Chinese, aud all
such peoples, have no rights which lordly repre-
sentatiVes of our civilization are bound to re-
spect, The British in India, and most foreign
ers in China, act on this assumption. 1t is com
mon in most parts of what we called the civ
ilized world, and, we suspect, the proceedings of
Admiral Rogers were not entirely free from it.
According to the accounts published on our
10 .I,a flx-
iating than our people. They are unwilling TO
open regular communication with either Ameri-
cans or Europeans; this is long established
peculiarly of their foreign policy, which we,
rowing traders, do not admire. At the same
time, they have no desire TO engage in war With
any other people. Therefore, previous to the
second attack by our men, they sought to ex
plain why our vessels were fired on, when they
attempted to survey and pass through the mar
row passage. What they did to re-establisl
peaceful relations, is not told in the official re
ports; but, there is reference to it in the Other
communications, from ono of which we TAXI
the following account of what was done by the
Corean government, to explain their proceed
ings, on the first of June. 1t will be seen tina
peaceful Corean mission was sent to the feet
three days previous to the second attack;
"CoREA, June II, 1871.
"a Corean junk went to the United States
steamer Colorado, anchored near here on Jun,
Z, and took on board the same men that wen
on board of her when she first anchored here
May 80. They carried as present to the American
minister and officers several young cattle fol
beef number of chickens and a quantity o.
eggs, say several thousand. Though they hat
previously persstently refused to sell ANYTHING
the SbIDe of the foot fhpV nfprpd these 6
present, saying they thought the men on board
must be hungry and need them after COMING
such an immense distance across the grea
water from the farthest nation of the west
This was evidently intended as kind Of peace
offering to atone in some degree for firms
on our gunboats on the LIST. They said il
explanation of that affair that the mar
row strait in Sallee river opposite For
de Coude, being only about quarter of milt
wide, was regarded as the gate into Corea an(
that their king had stationed men there NTH or
derS to alioD no one to pass, but to fire on all td
attempted It; that the fire from our guns haC
killed several tens and wounded number; tina
the of1cer IN command of the fort had been dis
graced, and that they were all very mucl
ashamed-their way, most probably, Of saying
they were very sorry for it." Aftermature delib
Grafton il was decided not to accept the presents
The Coreans appeared TO regret it still NOR
when they learned this decision They entredtet
gerry earnestly that at least portion of them
some of the chickens and eggs, at least, nigh
be accepted; but our minister was firm and dc
clded in his refusal, being determined to shoy
them that they were not hungry, and could sta,
here some time entirely independent of any SUP
plies from the Coreans. While the officials wer
negotiating for the acceptance of their present
their followers dispersed about the ship, lookin
at everything with great interest. After stayin
several hours the whole party left, very muc
detected at the failure Of their mission and r
lection of their presents"
Here was formal deputation from the go
eminent of Corea, sent to explain why I'll
American vessels were fired upon, at the Mario
passage, and say that the Coreans were yer
sorry for what had happened. This was doin
more TO concilate the Americans and establish
peaceful understanding between the partie
than our people would have done, if the rel
mons between the parties had been rever
ed We should have demanded an apo
ogy for the hostile conduct of the vessels,
forcing their way violently through tha
gate into Corea" to survey the forbidd
waters. Certainly, an apology for this hig
handed proceeding, was due to the Coreans, III
less it has actually been settled as fundamel
tai principal of our foreign policy, that the
have no rights which we are bound to respec
1t was explained. to Admiral Rogers, that the c.
rean firing, on the first of June, was done, NJ
10 insult our flag, but in obedience TO a standiI
order of the government which required tho
iorts to defend the "gate into Corea;" and Il
deputaton added that the Coreans were "all We
much ashamed" meaning that they were ve
sorry there had been hostile collision Havir
explained the matter, they entreated the Amel
can oilleers to accept their presents and allo
hot