The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-09
THE COREAN EMBASSY.
Significance of its Dispatch as an Act
of Corea's Sovereignty.
Fronl the Nem YORK sun.

From the Ne,U York Sun.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-The move of
Corea, or Chosen, as its inhabitants call
their country, in sending an embassy to the
United States, must force China to decide
very soon whether she will acknowledge or
resist the independence of the peninsula.
Our government has been acting for years
as II no doubt existed on that point The
treaty made in 1892 dealt with COrea as
with sovereign power. The appointment
OF United States Minister Resident at
Seoul was another act in the same direction.
VOW an American war vessel, the Omaha,
mas at the request of this minister, taken
aboard the Corean Ambassador accredited
TO the United States, with his suite, and
carried them to Nagasaki, where the party
proceeds by steamer to Hong Kong and San
francisco Shis was done in face Of Chinese
opposition and possibly prohibition; and
the new Minister was received aboard with
the prescribed salute of guns denoting his
rank. A further official character was
gwen to the voyage by hosting Corean
nag as well as the stars and stripes. Secre-
'ary Fairchild has completed the initial
recognition of the Embassy by sending
special instructions on the subject to the
customs officers at Son Francisco.
IL is still a matter of doubt how China
VIII treat the matter. Her policy all along
mas indicated uncertainty, and perhaps q
CONNECT of motives and interests. 1t is
against human nature, whether Monaghan
OF Caucasian, to voluntarily give up author
ity over an area like that of Corea, which
Is as large as that of Kansas. But prac-
Ideally the remuneration would not be diff
HuiI Although tributary to China, and in
the habit until recently OF making an an
Auai glIG to its Emperor in sign of ale
slance, Corea is really an absolute mon
archy. The growth of the peninsula in
numerical Importance since it opened
F EG[ee ports to Americans aud
cupldlty But even should Corea re-
nam tributary, as before, there would be
~ warrant for collecting an income from
~. emma might find an excuse for endeav-
orIhg 10 subJugate the peninsula i'll the re-
IenC dlscontinuance of the traditional
Sw,ioute and the present appointment of a
1linlster to the United States and another
oue 10 Europe. But this would involve
,e trouble. Corea might find an ally
iUn such a struggle in Japan, which ac-
Ano"Iedged her Independence nearly a dozen
years ago, and possibly another in Russia,
, m1lch might be very glad to extend aid in
s,,oll u Tor port on the Corean coast and
Iucn territorial indemnity as she could on
"VI own account exact from China.
do Iue conduct Of China during the last halt
uozeh years is another ground for thinking
ulNl she may refrain from resisting Corea's
nspira6lsns for independence. The treaty
1 So9e by Corea with the United States in
TO- To- was followed by similar treaties with
' uieat Britain and Germany in 1883, and
WIN WIN Italy and Russia in 1884. No objection
s w. - made to these by China, yet that would
s tooIu 4. 10 have been the proper time TO pro-
,,s 80 u sue had any TO make. The Chinese
snSist that these various treaties were ac-