The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-10-03


cipal Offices Il is the opposition 10
this family, led by the Kings own
father, that has stirred up tho recent
insurrectiOn. In 1884, the leader of
this opposition was Kim Ok Kun, and
he hoped, after numbering his leading
rivals, to seize power for himself and
his adherents. Failing in his plans
he fed with some of his fellow con-
spirators TO Toxic, Japan. Then be-
gan the efforts OF Korea, abetted by
China, to induce Japan to give the
arch rebel up, and failing in this, to
assassinate him among his protectors
A Korean mission was despatched to
Japan in Chinese man-of-war to de-
mand the extradition of Kim and his
followers They were assisted in their
efforts by the Chinese representatives
at Toxic and, it is said, by Lii Hung
Chang, the great viceroy of Chilli.
Many weeks we're spent in the negoti-
ations, but Japan was firm in her re-
fusal. She took the ground that she
had no extradition treaty with Korea !;
furthermore, she alleged, that the
crimes for which the fugitives were
wanted to answer in Korea were of q
political nature, and it was against
the law of nations to surrender politi-
cal offenders. So the mission went
home defeated. Kim and four of his
associates lived for while in peace at
Toxic. Three of his comrades, doubt
ing the ability of Japan to Withstand
the pressure, fed to San Francisco.
Had Kim respected his asylum it is
barely possible that he might have
lived there securely for the rest of his
days. But in the following year,
1885, there was another plot to over
turn the Korean Government, and
there was evidence that Kim, the dar-
ing, restless and designing politician,
was at the bottom of it. Demands for
his exhibition were at once renewed.
China and Korea both asserted that as
long as Kim remained in Japan he
would be able to create disturbances
in his native land. Japan remained
firm in her refusal, giving as her only
reason that political offenders were
never extradited in Western countries,
and If the Eastern nations desired to
be treated as equals by those of the
West, they must learn to act upon the
same principles. No further attempt
to secure the extradition of Kim was
made, but Korea at once began to take
measures to effect the removal of this
troublesome person by other pro-
cesses.
Three futile expedients for the as
sassination of Kim were attempted in
the following year, and were described
in the public prints, as far as the de.
tails were known, late in 1886. The
instrument in the most interesting of
these attempts appeared in Japan in
the person of Chi, an official in the
Seoul war department. In Kim 8
palmy days Chi had been an ardent
disciple of the advanced views of that
astute politician, but he was now faith
fully serving Government composed
of Kim's enemies. He travelled quiet
ly to Japan, ard took lodgings in an
ordinary inn in Toxic. On May 2,
1885, he wrote to Kim, protesting that
their old friendship still continued on
his part, that he deeply sympathized
with Kim in his misfortunes and exile,
and requested an interview. The old
assassin was too sharp for the young
one, however, and Kim bluntly re-
fused to see him. At the same time
he directed his friends to worm their
way into Chi's confidence, and ono of
them did so with considerable skill.
He told Chi that the exiles were
tired of their life in Japan, sorely re-
gretted their folly, and longed to be
back in Korea. Kim was the cause of
their present plight. He had deceived
them, and they all hated him for il.
Would Chi intercede for them with
the King and the Government They
would cheerfully seize Kim and carry
him off if they could. Nay, they had
become so embittered by his conduct
that they would kill him, if Kidding
the country of him would be the means
of making their peace with their SOW
ereign. Kim was very wary, but no
one could lull his suspicious to sleep
as his companions could, and they
would do anything to show the sim
cerity of their repentance.
Chilistened seriously to these things,
but was quito non-committal. 1t took
some weeks for confidence to beget
confidence. At last he convinced him
self Of the sincerity of the exile. Then
CHI conhded to him that he had been
sent to Japan by the King for the ex-
press purpose of killing him, and that
he would pay sum equivalent to
$4,000 to anyone who would give him
effective assistance in carrying out
this bloody task. Kim's envoy at once
became very circumspeet. 1t was a
perilous affair, he said. He was will
ing to do the work, but suppose, for
instance, that Chi had never received
commission from the King, then any
one killing Kim would be seized by
the Japanese, and would be repudia-
ted by the Koreans. Chi was able to
soothe these suspicious. He first pro-
duced a large Korean dagger, which,
he said, had been given to him by the
King for the purpose of Staying Kim,
and finally he exhibited this mandate,
to which the royal seal was actually
attached;
1--WE hereby commission you to
cross the sea and apprehend the rebel,
to accomplish which object you shall
have full power to act according TO
circumstances, using due caution not
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