St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-09-08

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the Government.
Every newly-opened country
doomed to be misrepresented more OF
less at first because OF the lack OF def
mite Information and the consequent en-
larging Of the few facts that arc known
for many statements that have beer
published at home about this country
can be charitably explained only OF
the hypothesis that truth is elastic.
desire to give through your columns q
few facts in regard to some of the more
important points about which misun-
derstanding exists. In the first place,
Corea is limited monarcy. There il
. written constitution. which is not,
perhaps. absolutely binding on the
King. but which is seldom deviated
from.
This Is . fact which is not generally
known. even by many of the foreigners
resident in this city. but have it on
the best of evidence. COrean mon
archy can not be said 10 be limited in
the sense that the people are represent
ed in any Council or Parliament, but
there are rules laid down which even
His Majesty will not overstep, except
ing under most unusual circumstances.
And word right here in regard 10 the
practical power of the King. Some
have said that he has no power at all,
but is imprisoned in his palace and
obeys his councillors. Others say that
he is perfectly untrammeled in the
execution of any design whatsoever.
Both of these statements strike wide of
OF the truth. although on opposite sides
OF it. To be sure, the King of Corea,
according to the sacred and unwritten
law of this and all the kindred nations,
is considered in one sense a sacred per-
sonage. and can not be exposed
TO the gaze of the populace
except on certain state occasions,
but this seclusion is vol
untary. Almost every night the noble
men congregate at the palace. and the
King holds his court practically the
same as any Western sovereign. He
has to depend largely upon the repre-
eentations of these nOblemen in making
his plans and in delivering his orders,
but il must be quite evident that when
the nOblemen present comprise the
leading members of two strong polite |
al parties misrepresentation to His
Majesty from one side would doubtless
be corrected from the other, and SO it
is the opinion of those who ought to
know that the King is not SO ILL
informed as some have pictured him.
His Majesty. in spite of the disad-
vantages under which he labors, is the
most liberal and progressive man in
the empire and it is due solely to his
wisdom and perseverance that the
legation was sent to the United States,
for it Is an acknowledged fact that a
majority Of the leading men here are
anti-foreign and conservative
IN their policy So far. then, from
being either a prisoner or a despot,
he King OF Ccrea is neither one nor
he other. In regard to the independ-
,nce OF Corea nothing need be said.
Her relations with the United States.
Russia, Germany, Great Britain,
france and Japan have put that above
and hereafter China will
doubtless accept the situation. But it ,
5 in regard to social questions that the
'reatest misunderstanding exists. ,
>oreans are not barbarians or savages: ,
hey are not nomads. but they belong I
0 the great family of civilized nations 4
S distinguished from enlightened ma q
ions. q
If a system Of government reaching S
ven to the minutest details, q COM ?
Heated social system, a knowledge of Q
rts and industries. a religious and q
EDUCATIONAL system, literature, and the l,
opcomitants of these imply civiliza- 4
on, then surely Corea is civilized.
Ier civilization dates back to q time 6
hen Japan was covered with savage v
.ibes. Is
1t is amusing to us out here in Corea q
watch the papers and read what is Y
id about this little country. Some 4,
,e said that suicide was extremely =
,mmOn. when. in fact, it is almost
lknown- Even the physician in charge e,
the Royal Hospital during three c,
,ars has only heard of one case. +,
hen we will read something about N
e second-stOry windows being all Ia
osed when the King goes by. when. "
fact. there are not half dozen two m
Dry houses in COrea; or about the Il
ng dispensing Justice as he travels v
rough the country. while. in fact. he VI
yer yet has gone ten miles outside OF
e gates Of Seoul ey