Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-09-07
COREA.
Wrong Ideas Prevalent Concerning
It's People.
practical Power Of the King-A Liberal
and Progressive Ruler-Woman's 70
sltion Robbed to support
the Government.

Every newly-opened country is
doomed to be misrepresented more Or
less at first because OF the lack OF def
mite Information and the consequent en-
Iaroine of the few facts that are known.
for MANY statements that have been
nublished at home about this country
can be charitably explained only on
the hypothesis that truth is elastic.
desire to give through your columns
few facts in regard to some of the more
important points about which misun-
derstanding exists In the first place,
Corea il limited monarcy. There is
a written constitution, which is not,
perhaps, absolutely binding on the
| King. but which is seldom deviated
from.
This is a 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 aud all the kindred nations.
is considered in one sense "A sacred per-
sonage, and can not be exposed
to the gaze of the populac'
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-
sensations 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 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 th&t the King is not so i'll
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,
Tor 1t is an acknowledged fact that
majority of the leading men here are
strongly anti-foreign ard conservative
IN their policy. So far. then, from
peihg either prisoner or despot,
the King of Corea is neither one nor
the other. In regard to the independ-
ehce 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
uouotless accept the situation. But it
Is IN regard to social questions that the
greatest misunderstanding exists.
koreans are not barharians or savages;
'Ney are not nomads, but they belong,
70 the great family of civilized nations
a distinguished from enlightened ma
tious.
Ia system of government reaching
ven 10 the minutest details. COM
phca'ed social system, knowledge of
ars ana industries, religious and
educational system, literature, and the
eoncomitants of these imply civiliza.
s ,,on' then surely Corea is civilized.
Aier ciylilzation dates back to a time
tribes. ''i' cav age
1t Is amusing to us out here in Corea
70 watch the papers and read what il
Saiu ABOUT this little country. Some
"e Salo That suicide was extremely
niiioh' when. in fact. it is almost
~ -. Even the physician in charge
the Royal Hospital during three
IN sars mas only heard of one case.
ne" We will read something about
Second-Story windows being all
f' When the King goes by. when.
',' here are not half dozen two
.oFs houses in Corea; or about the
- dispensing justice as he travels
through the country. while, in fact he
ever Yet has gone ten miles outside
ne gates of Seoul. '''1'
mere are plenty of uupleasa,t fe.,
,a es ABOUT the social condition of these
without filling the minds of
IUers with Imaginary ones. Much
r,.. ''eh SAID about the natives being
ea' eaters of dogs flesh. After a
'' observation of the habits OF
~ people for two years l can truly
a, mat 1t is only the lower classes
bidsp 'ulse IN that luxury. BY the
raS - ana upper classes it is eonsid-
Horo'' uetestable as by Am orleans.
~ when one goes THROUGH some
,o 0ne poorer parts of the CITY and secs
o.,s p, s' absolutely starving to death ii
bod - cause any surprise that such
olu,sl, 'uaue use OF. Dog flesh is alb
UNKNOWN in COraau faas+a