New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-18
4 JAPANESE ON THE coREAy STRUGGLE.
CONTEST BETWEEN CIVILIZATION AND BAR
BARIsM-JAPANS JUSTIFICATION
IN THE WAR.
To The Editor of The Tribune.


IN THE WAR.
To The Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The conflict of Japan and China. which mas
been long expected to come and has been menacng'
for a time the peace of ASIA has finally burst upon
Corea This is not only the question OF the East.
but also the question OF the West so far as the
interest of the Western Powers is concerned
Japan's course in Corea has been much criticised
Some have denounced II unjust. The true es-
sencc of the struggle between Japan and emma IL
still largely misunderstood. Many nave thoushl
and are thinking that Japan has an ambition Ior
territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 1t is not so. fftu
Japan need Of Corea she would not have waited Till
to-day For long time Corea had been SUBJECT 10
Japan.
"A late as 1874 the Government or the Mikado
was inclined to maintain that Corea was terri
tory belonging to the sovereignty OF Japan bu.
| popular opinion very noeral anu ieeoeh'NeN
Corea as an Independent State. and a treaty was
concluded which asserted her independence Ihehce-
forth Japan made great efforts for the progress .,
Corea MANY Corean students were educated ana
many japanese, sent there as INSTRUCTORS anu "'\
advisors assisted the advancement OF her ciVihIa-
| ton Japan has never failed to sno" her 'rie"u''
sympathy toward Corea, because we people oi ia
pan always think that the progress ana we'ia.e -
| Corea as a firm Independent nation mas the sreat-
90, hearing upon Asa.ic civilization. and also the
| safety OF Japan itself
Tho nermanent neutrality of the Hermit Kingdom
is of vital Importance the prosperity Oh the CUM
trv Of the Rising Sum- It is inferred from this that
| Japan can never permit the Chnese Calm VI 'uHe
| rainty over Corea nor Russian aggression
! oyer H. China has long claimed her suZe-
rain power in Corea, Russia looks on her "itn COW
etous eyes England. her fatal Asiatlc rival 10
| anxious to have some portion OF this uo'iiion -
| forestall the Russian influence in the last pu'
| Japan for her honor and dignity must not a'o"
| anv paramount supremacy of Asiatc or European
| Powers on this land. What Japan really wants Tor
Corea Is to help her In the establishment OF souu
| system of government ana In the recohsuuO''i Va
| the social order; otherwise so far as the present
situation Of corea IS concerned, her existence Is I'M
| possible For this aim Japan, for the sake OF her
! own interest and OF humanity. VIII dare even u
| force this half decayed kingdom
So long Chinese influence IN Corea pre"o,''il
ateg any efforts for her advancement are hopeless
For a long time her career for CIVILIZATION lostefeu
| by japan ceased and her once advanced steps nave
retrograded Corea for generations iahsuiSheu u"-
| der chinese influence and she Will never advance
| unless some Power emancpates her from her W
| rant To China advancement ana clvilza,lo' are
high crimes She had already declared Japan to De
| the traitor OF the East For the last twenty-five
| yea rs japan has made the most marvellous prog
| ress which perhaps the history of the worid ha'
| ever seen The old feudll regime was cast AVA!
| The social organization was completely reorsahzei
New and enlightened criminal codes were ehacts''
the methods of judicial procedure were utterly rev.
! olutionzed: the Jail system was radcaily lmpro'eu'
effective systems of police, Of posts. or teiesrWhs
| telephones and all means Of communication were
! adopted enlightened modes of education were EN-
p!oyed; the complete organization OF the army
| and navy after the modern European model. was
| achieved The wise methods Of finance OF the I'M
perlal government were established' the hos' I'M
proved and extensive scheme OF local goVsrhn'eh'
was put into operation. and the central government
| was organzed after the most advanced ana en-
! lghtened scale. Freedom of thought speech anu
faith was bestowed the system Of an influential ana
| widely read press rapidly grew up. Now the mon
archical absolutlsm in the Mikados Empire IL re-
! placed by government by parliament ana cohs'l'u-
tlonal principle. Such is the condition oil japan
achieved in the last twenty-fiv years. and all these
| advanced steps were acts OF treason 10 INC e'S'
| Now look al China! Darkest clouds Of conservat-
ism and Ignorance seal this immense empire Tor
centuries Though this great monarchy retains an
outward appearance of unity and majesty the sreat
by Manchurian predominance and by constant MAJ,
9 9sf4 edunpy as set ,h he Mdd kingdom IN
iightcned Earth All modern civilization Is viewed
| warfare are regarded necessary evils, for they
still adhere to bow ana aTr9w sso mari as the
heather preachers" Such Is the state OF 'h'isS III
The struggle OF Japan and China Just raging on
the Eastern may be better eXpained a. me
tHe progresslve represented by the spirit of Japan
and the conservative. by China corea is me p lage
,b~Ir fate The collision of self-nierests between
England and Russia. which appears TO , nf ~ is
Japan's course in Corea is right She has never
| Infrlngcd the ethics Of international law Her &C,
| ions can never he called unjust. IL there Is any
nan VINO n aS'T nn surely he is ignorant the
condition the East The trouble over Coren i h.s
Watches occupied the highest offices in the Court
chinese Minister supported oy me GhsdSK kinp
nucnce is actually master OF the WrcH ~ NJ
dom All tendencies in Corea are against the me-
ests OF Japan Some years ago tneLe Cran %oUrt
struggle Of political parties IN me Corea ~ ~
ore represented the progressive elements ana Ths
other the conservatives me iafr in Corea
Progressive elements were crusneu an Pi ,
Ti n Iapan, where they found their asylum: chi
| nes. and Corean governments dispatcmeu, M
ate political reformers but Japan was nT iniarn nal
,etusal ON ihe gr2und 81 ,ny sanctioned by
the chinese Government at once began 10 Ian, az
measures effect the removal OF neSs ru followed
their footsteps for ten years in van hs u refarmers
last sprirg and the other experienced the utmost
peril Most barbarous crueltes were conini,'eu 10y
me inc dirnIiT % Japan was dlsgraced by China and
Corea Many times disisn ana con'en snv Yam Isn.
onnse were killed by them and Japans commsrcia
interests were impaired is.; w, IIeDrce With GEN
The progress Of the late rebellion IN c0 0orpe waI
anarchy seemed to prevail The interests OF Japan
which are greater than those OF any other hI,ton
| In corea were AZ the point OF utmost danger. rus
| ia seemed TO be about to grasp the opl1r'uiry
| 10 ,w,tted the English seemed 10 nave the Same
,,r,oso Insolent China seemed To be using the
rorean mobs for her own advantage, when ~ Iata
| - fnnan's interests Japan no longer lightly viewer
,bn,,s insolence and Corean disorder rms was ,le
s,ato Of affairs when Japan took her first decided
s,en In Corea 4 nation has a sacred right 10 use
Torr for It's self-preservation or even Tor me sae
| ~ humanity Therefore the action OF japan IN
Corea is unsuitable. japan. trusting 10 the prlSht
onnI sous and heightened patriotism OF her nation
has entered into "A struggle with china me sreiI ,
1 nc, To-day Japan 0gntS Tor lHe
Ike Of civilization and humanity This war not
onI, decides the supremacy of Japan or Chna IN
oS n,,, Ieru,lnes the rise and fall of progressive
and conservative spirits in the Fast me true , q tss
OF japan In the war U.s. ny conTb u ,sthfullv 10