New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-31
AMERICANS IN COREA.
THEIR INFLUENCE IN THE POLlllCS O"N-
MERGE AND ARMY OF TIE KINGDOM
Shanghai, China. December :

cities and establishing concessions loE hh'cIi'''
Consulates Throughout Corca. Inc approval VI
the Corean King WAS readily Obtained anu "a,
structions issued from the Royal I'lace lux az
the officials at the ports where the AiIahc' 'o"O''
10 grant every courtesy TO the American hi"i''''
and 10 further his efforts 10 select cOhces9'"n VI
land in every possible manner Ihls Is the iiN'
time any foreign nation has ever pald an oI'ic'"'
visit TO the COrean ports and the Ihl'eu H'1'cS
has through its action, gained the goodwin o'
the Corean people in thus treating with 'hei' dr.
with any civilized Power.
For many wears the United States Government
has taken more than usual interest III the open
ing TO foreign trade of the hitherto closed Ming
dom of COrea, and il is mainly due To the per
sistent efforts of American diplomats an" h"N"
officers that the country has been opened 10 ''ic
trade of the world. The first impetus gwen j"
this direction in the early part OF 'h' PI'S'ii'
century. when entcrprising shipownerS were SAIL
ing over every part of the eastern seas ana ua"-
inc with Yankee notions in all parts Of China and
Japan To these entcrpIising merchants the closed
Kingdom of Corea has yet offered rich m"Ikc'
for their cargoes Being driven away by the hostile
natives each time landing was effected upon It's
shores the owners Of the vessels at home turned TO
CONGRESS for assistance in opening the Kingdom TO
the markets Of the world Several resolutions
were offered and passed by Congress tending 10
the opening of the country ana Tor entering lh'"
treaties of peace and commerce between the wv"
nations. Each attempt, however. LATED. Inc
failures may in great measure be atlnonted 10
the influence of China, who has always rrSal"c"
Corea as a vassal and has used every effort in max
inc foreign nations treat through her Win core"
China holds great influence in the condGc' OF
affairs in this Peninsular Kingdom. She receives
yearly tribute from Corca. This tribute has III
late years gradually sunk TO mere nominal sum,
and has gradually been lowered from the real
nature Of tribute to that Of yearly presents from
the King of Corea 10 the Emperor of CHINA: yet
it is still demanded by the Chinese Government
Were Corca to tie annual payment II would
probably involve her in a war with her huge
ncighbOr.
In sec the American schooner General Sherman
was sent by an American firm from TientSin, China
on a trading voyage TO Corca Arriving at Ping
Yong, the crew became involved in some dltlI-
culties with the natives and the vessel or crew
were never heard from aftcrward 1t was reported
that the crew were overpowcred by the natives,
who imprisoned them below the decks. and. clos
ing the matches, set fire TO the vessel, burning
the crew alive Vessels of var of our ASiatic
squadron were sent to Ping Yung on two separate
occasions TO investigate the disappearance OF the
schooner and cargo. but nothing could he learned
The people and officials alike proicsscd utter
ignorance of the affair. Admiral Rodgers. theh
commanding the Asatic squadron. proceeded 10
Seoul, the capital with his fleet. While engaged
In tracing or sounding ont channel Tor the
passage of the ships mp the river, the surveying
boats several times fired upon by the Corcans,
who exhibited every sign OF hostility, and finally
forced to retire to the men-Oi-war HE AL
miral, percciving that 10 peaceful solution could
he obtained. desired 10 destroy The Corcan fo1t,
along the river. aud then bring the warlike natives
to terms. The various forts were bombaraed by
the gunboats Palos and Monocacy, and after their
guns were dismounted by the shell from the gun-
boats the sailors and marines landed from
the larger mcn-of-war Each fort was separately
attacked and its garrison either captured or pu 10
flight The sailors then blew mp all the fOrihcl-
lions, after which they returned 10 their respective
ships The loss Of the Americans in this i!tc wal
three killed and as many wounded, while
the COrean loss amounted 20 well up in tic
hundreds in killed and many times many
wounded. This occurred in june 1871, and WIS
the forerunner of the opening of the Kingdom.
Shortly after this another naval expedition was
sent TO Corea, hut, though unsuccessful in nrgO-
tiatng a treaty, met with such warm and friendly
reception that few years later another cXpedi-
tOn was sent, which succeeded in throwing open
the ports of ChemulphO, Wausan and Fus1n -
American settlement and commerce. together with
the right for our missionaries 10 preach III.
Christian religion throughout the Kingdom. In
making this treaty the United States acknowledged
Corea as n free and independent nation, and re-
fused TO acknowledge the claim Of suzcraintv
put forward by China. and hitherto admitted
by all other nations. This action Of the
oil A.
Cabinet, and ever since China has in some de-
gree used her influence against the good favor OF
our country with The COreans. The United State,
is the only civilized Government which has cs
tabli>hed a full Legation al Seoul, the capital OF
the Kingdom-all other countries contcnting them
selves with consular representation, and in .
measure acquicscing in the claim of suzcrainty
put forward by China
1t is mainly due TO the honest and strairhtfoI-
ward treatment Of the Corcans as nation that
success with that country has been due The
Americans are to-day the most influential foreigner.
in the Kingdom and present prospects seem T.
indicate continuance Of the good feeling. The
Prime Minister Of Corca, General {. w Legcndrc
is al American, who has spent many years ia
tie East, and has been closely identified will
the Governments OF Japan and China and is now
the ruling spirit in that Of COrca. Al present
ne is at Toxic on diplomatic duty for the CorcaI
King. The legal adviser Of the Corcon Cabinet
is the Hon. G. K. Greenhouse, ex-Unitcl States
Consul-General to Yokohama. who last December
resigned his office in Yokohoma 10 accept hi
present situation: relieving the Hon Charlie
Denny, an American, who had for several year
held that post The general commanding Tn,
Corcan Army, General Dye, is al American a.
also is his lieutenant Both Of these officers hay,
been in Corca for about six years, and TO then
is due the highly efficient state and the loyalty
OF the army, which has several occasions
maintained the supremacy Of the Royal llous
against formidable rebclllons. Tae various Govern
ent hospitals and schools were established
mainly through the efforts Of Americans and the
are now all conducted by physicians and teacher
1rnn, tLe l,nitcl Stafas In cAnrN hlnucl of III