The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-02
BY TELEGRAPH.
Current Events OiIntcr-
est From Both Sides
The Ocean.
4 DEMOEALI1FD COSDGTION or AT
FAIRS ~ THE STATE OF CoRfh.
Foreign and Domestic News Items.

OF the consequent disturbances among
the people Of Corea, be has proposed the
naturalization or tho Peninsula under a
guard Of the various treaty powers. Mar
quis ! seng's view has always been that
China was the Suzcrain Of Corea; tha,
foreign powers had no interest there and
should, therefore, he rigidlY prevented
from acquiring any beyond that given 10
them by treaty with China's consent
The fact, however, that such a position
is generally accepted rs ono made by the
Marquis 1seng and under discussion by
The Chinese Government, is in itself eyi-
dence of the exceedingly unsatisfactory
state Of Lorea The Peninsula is really
a King OF Cockpit for the iniTigues
of E9stern diplomatists aided by COrean
public men. Periodically these intIieues
break out on the surface as riots, insnr-
reclIcns, assassination and the like Ia
the struggle which has gone in for The
last four years Coreaa ministers have
been elevated an1 Oyerlhr0wn on the
twinkling OF an eve. One night the
members OF the ministry in full power
went To a banquet in building in NV
Sevul By daybreak several OF them were
dead or dyng by assassination and the
remainder were far away from the capi-
tai, either in fight 70 mountains on the
Russian frontier or 10 the cOast, ia the
hope Of Eading boat which would carry
them to place Of safety At TIE source
of all the Corean troubles, less the ques-
ton Of .yassaldom to China since sthe
treaties were made with foreign COun-
tries, beginning in 1881, certain Euro
peans and Americans who have gOlc to
that country, either In connection with
The legations Of foreign powers or
in the service OF the COrean
Gofernmont Itself, have put into
The heads Of the King and Queen the
idea that COrea should be independent
of China. For centuries COrea has been
tributary TO China. As rule, the yoke
was easy and the burden exceedingly
light, usually consisting Of q mission
every one, two or three wears, according
to distance. bearing tritliug presents TO
PekiD. The missions went back laden
with the richest presents, and were con
veyed from and 10 the boundaries OF the
Empire al the Emperor & expense. They
were charged no customs duties, and OF
this privilege they took advantage 10
trade and make enormous profits. 4 COM
mon method OF Furnishing The m'scon-
duet Of yassal was 10 refuse 10 see the
mission. But, although this suzerainiy
involved no very close and constant re-
laiiOnship between suzerain and yassal,
China has sometimes found il eXpedient
10 treat 1t as very important relation.
The case Of COrea is Of this character
That country is close 20 the capital OF
China, its harbors command the IeloF
sea and the coasts Of China, anu, there
fore. the Peninsula possess special
value In the eyes Of the Chinese govern
ment. When the Powers fist came 10
make treaties with Corea, the very loose
and unsettled relations OF China guZer-
ainty was shown By the fact that she dis
claimed oil responsibility for the doings
Of Corea, though at the same time she
tried TO get clause acknowledging her
suzerainiy placed in the first treaty.
This, however, was stricken cut 10y the
American Senate as amounting 10 a dec
laration by one of the other parties TO
the treaty and an acknowledgement by
The other that The former, though max
ing treaty, really had no power 10 make
treaties. COrea, therefore, made her
treaties with Western nations on an In
dependent footing, and in all Corean
treaties China is sedulOusly excluded be-
cause she refused to demand that the
Corean treaties be made with her con-
sent, with the necessary coroliary that
she would make herself answerabie to
foreign nations for the conduct Of the
Coreans. The policy which produced
this state OF things was that OF ii Hung
Chang, who is a persistent waiter upon
events. The insurreCtion IN 1892, the
attack upon the japanese Legation, al d
the murder Of a number OF Japanese
subjects led China 10 fear that the threat
ened japanese expedition would
result in peTmanont japanese
occupation Of a part OF Cores
Accordingly China began en-
deavors to regain her predominance over
the King of Corea and his ministers.
Another outbreak against the japanese
decided China TO dispatch large force
at once 10 put down di-Order The
rapidity with which this expedition was
sent was marvellous. The disturbances
were suppressed and the Chinese en-
camped outside the CoFean capital and re-
mained there few years, oyer-awlng the
Government and strengthening the
hands of the Chinese resident, Iuen, who
virtually rules the country.
ANY change In the position OF Corea.s
relations with foreign powers must al
ways be matter OF serious eonsidera-
tion to Japan, whose interest in the mat
Ter are almost as great as those OF China.
There are reasons to believe that If China
uses force respecting the dispute over Mr.
Denny in order to preserve her hold on
Corea, Japan will object and serious dill
culties ensue between those powers, pos
sibly resulting in Russian protecto. ate
over Corea, an attempt TO assume when
will compel England 10 show her hand.