Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-09-15
RULERS OF CoREA.
rhe King Has Always Been friehdiY y
Japan--Coerced by Relatives

The King Has Always Been Friendly I"
J-apan--Coerced by Relatives
YOKOHAMA, Sept. s.-Since the last
i~ispatch of news to America circum'
,tancos have occurred which throws
much light on the long disputed ques'
ZION as TO which side in the war was
favored by the king of Corea.
The lower classes in that country
lave no opinions on political subjects
Il the middle class hus any it is not
allowed to express them. Even the ar
| stocracy has learned the necessity OF
seeping silence if its views are opposed
10 the governing body.
The only voice hitherto heard mas
peer that of the ministry, a corrupt
monarchy, composed Of the Ming fam
ly and their dependents, who are com
pletely under the control of China. IL
1as been TO their interest TO represent
that the sovereign was heartily III ac-
cord with them, and until the last few
weeks their assurances to this effect
have been generally accepted as true.
The queen. who Is "a blood relation
Of the Mings, is undoubtedly under
The influence of China, and as she is
understood TO be greatly superior 10
her consort in intellect and
force of character, her power to
impress her ideas upon him has been
easily credited. That the Mings acted
really IN the kings name and with his
sanction was not seriously questioned
lp to the time when the Chinese dlplo-
nat agent in Seoul deserted his post
and left the court free from surveil-
ance.
Then the japanese envoy received a
message from the kings father, sug-
resting that if an interview could be
arranged in the palace his son could DE
induced to recognize the justice and
friendliness OF Japan's intention with
out much diniulty. The kings father,
officially known as Tai Won Kun, was
at one time the regent of the country,
but through the intrigues of the Mings
he was deposed some ten years ago and
condemned to IA long captivity.
After his liberation he was forbidden
to approach the court, but that he kept
"a watchful eye upon the course Of
events is proved by the accuracy Of his
statements respecting the sovereign.
The Japanese envoy at once insisted
upon meeting the monarch personally
and under conditions that should en-
able him to speak his mind without re-
straint.
Being denied this privilege by royal
advisers, he determined to present him
self with an armed escort, and sem for
n detachment from the Japanese forces
outside the city. AS this small guard
passed by the palace, on the way To
the ENJOYS residence, il was fred upon
by Corean soldiers in the service of the
Mings.
These shots settled the fate OF the
ministry. The native troops were dis
persed with scarcely n struggle. and an
hour later the representative of Japan
was in amicable conversation with the
sovereign, who did not hesitate to de-
clare that he had been under coercion
ever since the beginning of the i'm.
broglio with China, and that he was
lar from feeling the hostility toward
Japan which his government had pub
icly attributed to him.
In token of his sincerity he had al
.eady rid himself of his late council
and summoned the Tai-Won-Kun ia
assist him in forming a new
administration. Before the day was
over "a cabinet made up of radical
opponents OF the Ming faction had been
Installed with Tai Won-Kun as prime
minister. and a committee of seventeen
appointed to recognize the administers
lion on the system recommended by
Japan.
Such activity and energy had never
before been witnessed since the foun-
iations of the Corean monarchy were
aid.
The extraordinary promptness of the
King in asserting to every PROPOSE
ion put forward by the japanese
'nvoy might have laid him open to
The suspicion Of seeking merely
% conciliate the new Corners. and to
icuon ON his part entirely inconsistent
with any secret sentiment Of i'll will.
As soon as the outgoing cabinet had
eft the palace, and without waiting 10
consult his new council, he called to-
geiher the commanders of the few re-
manning troops ut his disposal and or.
dered them instantly to join the Japan-
ese army on the way~ to attack tho
Chinese at Asan.