The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-07-24
CIVIL SERVICE IN ASIA.


Improbable to recall some Of the incidents o
the American excursion of some years ago Il
the coast of Corea in the cause of civil service
reform. The Kai ghoa Island is ituated OF
the Borean coast, and its inhabitants are hal
savages, upon whom the reigning civilization
thinks it has some claim for the amenities i
has incorporated into life, which the Corean!
fail to see. They are not without arts anc
industry, nor without religion and politics.
having government Of some sort, at the head
of which is an old buffer, exercising the divine
right of having his own way, under the usual
title of king. These people are good fighters,
are not without pretensions to diplomacy,
which they carry on with flint lock muske's,
and while in cunning and fraud they are little
behind the most advanced Christians, they
equal the best regulated canabals in the I'M
| reserved indulgence of cruel instincts. There
| are among them few Christians, indeed, Of
their own race, the killing of whom is a
recognized privilege which seems in some
measure to recompense them for lack Of the
white element for uses Of ovation.
1t is, long since, ascertained that the Corean
sentiment is hostile to the mixing of races, and
the better classes especially look upon whites
as inferior people. This distaste of the
Coreans for an inferior people became inter-
nationally known and European, and other
governments, who humanely proseyte such
disorderly communities or kill them wherever
found, began to think seriously of reforming
the Asiatic colored folks and their reconstruct
ton became the question under advisement
Naturally our government was called in and
asked to take hand in regulating civil rights
among these remote people, for which
purpose the expedition was organized and
dispatched, and came to grief in abou,
month. 1t was prepared at Shanghai, under
the supreme direction, we think, of Commo-
dore Rogers, of the Asia,ic fleet, an accom-
plished officer and gallant gentleman as an,
who ever honored the American flag with his
name, or drew victorious sword in the abate-
ment of any nuisance.
When off the Island of Kanghoa the expe-
dition rested several days with the hope OF
discovering crack in the minds of the unpro-
crossed Corean rulers, through which to emit
a few streaks Of diplomatic light from the
prevailing civilization. But being held in the
American carpet bag contempt Of that era by
the stern old gemman Of color who bossed it
in that sovereign state this artfu device was
failure. The expedition found, indeed, thatit
had new pecuiarities to deal with in a people
never before subjected to reconstruction, in
other words, it had to learn that war was frs,
in order and that the diplomacy was to come
after.
peaceful and wholly noffensive survey of
the Island was determined upon, and four
launches were applied to the work. but, with
out further progress than the discovery tina,
Corean mud was resisting force Of much
the adventure was ended by sud-
den turbulent outcry of several scareful old
guns which so injured the feelings Of the sur
veying party that they relieved themselves
from further duty without orders from the
flagship.
Further delay ensued, and a few of the |
cunning rascals of the Island visited the |
squadron, satisfied their savage curiosity,
talked with all the suav,y and deceit of Chris
tan white men, and finally, as we remember,
went back declining to carry note diplomatic
to the gentle old king on the ground that he
treated altogether with flint locks, the only !
diplomacy he knew, and that while taking the
note could not avail the squadron it would
end in fatal disaster to them
Finally landing was organized, the ships
to cooperate. But one of the latter stranded |
on rock and some days further were lost,
after which the attempt was repeated with sue
cess. Various little forts were abandoned in |
succession by the natives and demolished by
the invaders, with artillery, and other arms,
no less astonishing in their operation, than
embarrassing in their effect, to the Coreans.
And, finally, in and through unexampled
deeps of mud, and over hills, wales, various
and endless rice fields, they SORTED before the
stronghold Of the contumacious darkies and |
the cruel war began in earnest.
Here the one first and final battle was
fought. Liberal Christian principles, i'm
proved fire arms and American valor triumph
ed. The castle of Kanghoa was stormed and .
taken, and two or three hundred of the