The Arizona sentinel., 1888-08-04

Every newly-opened country is
 doomed to be misrepresenteG more or less at first because ot the lack of defi-
 nite information and the consequent en-
 larging of the few facts that are known,
 for many statements that have been
 published at home about this country
 can be charitably explained only on the hypothesis that truth is elastic. l desire to give through your columns a
 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 is a 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 to 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 a word right here in regard to 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- sentations of these noblemen in making his plans and in delivering his orders, but it must be quite evident that when the noblemen present comprise the leading members of two strong politic- 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 strongly anti-foreign and conservative in their policy. So far, then, from being either prisoner or despot, the King of Corea is neither one nor the other. In regard to the independ- ence of Corea nothing need be said. Her relations with the United States, Russia, Germany, Great Britain, France and Japan have put that above suspicion, and hereafter China will doubtless accept the situation. But it is in regard to social questions that the greatest misunderstanding exists Coreans are not barbarians or savages; they are not nOmads, but they belong to the great family of civilized nations as distinguished from enlightened na- tions.
 If system of government reaching even to the minutest details, con- plcated social system, knowledge of arts and industries, a religious and educational system, literature, and the concomltants of these imply civiliza- tion, then surely Corea is civilized. Her civilization dates back to a lime when Japan was covered with savape tribes
 It is amusing to us out here in Corea | to watch the papers and read what is said about this little country. Some one said that suicide was extremely common, when, in fact, it is almost unknown. Even the physician in charge of the Royal Hospital during three years has only heard of one case. Then we will read something about the second-story windows being all closed when the King goes by, when, in fact, there are not half dozen two story houses in Corea; or about the King dispensing justice as he travels through the country, while, in fact, he never yet has gone ten miles outside the gates of Seoul.