Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-12-14
The War Between Japan and China.

While all readers know that great war
is being waged between China and Japan,
and that Japan has the advantage at every
point, comparatively few would be able to
say on just what grounds the contest was
begun. For many years Corea has been in
a state of semi-dependency on China, the
king of Corea being little better than
vassal of the Chinese emperor, and the
Corean people have sunk into state of
shameful corruption and degradation.
With the deliberate purpose of putting an
end to this state of things Japan formu-
lated these demands on Corea
1. The civil government in the capital
and the provinces to be thoroughly re-
formed and the departments arranged on
new basis under proper responsible heads.
2. The resources of the country to be
developed, mines opened, railways con-
structed, etc.
3. The laws of the country to be radi-
caly reformed.
4. The military establishments to be re-
organized under competent instructors, so
as to render the country secure alike from
internal disorder and external attack.
.. Education to be thoroughly reformed
on modern lines.
When the Corean foreign Office finally
sent commission to confer with the Jap
anese minister these demands were so ex-
tended as to include the abolition of the
foreign customs establishment, which was
introduced by China; the elimination of
the influence of the queen; the dismissal
of foreign advisers; radical changes in the
methods of the courts, and the construction
of railroads, telegraphs, mints and other
accessories of civilized government. To
establish these reforms of itself the Corean
government was as helpless as a child, and
there is no doubt that in making these de-
mands the ultimate purpose of Japan was
to assume, practically, the administration
of Corean affairs. Her proposition to China
was that both countries take joint action in
bringing these reforms about, but this pro-
posal China CURLY refused. Japan, through
its Corean minister, Mr.. Otori, then in
formed the Corean officials at Seoul, the
capital city, of its intention to see the re-
forms carried out on its own account. The
Ming ministry or faction, to which the
Corean queen belongs, and which is pro-
Chinese in its sympathies, showed no dis
position to cooperate, and on the 23d of
last July, when body of japanese guards,
viii ch Mr.. Otori purposed to use as an es-
cort, were on their way to their quarters near
the royal residence they were fired upon by
the troops in the Ming service. A skirmish
fifteen minutes long followed when it was
over the japanese were in possession of
the palace, the Ming ministry was over
thrown, and the Corean king declared his
independence of China and gave the Jap
anese minister written pledge to see the
abuses ended and the reforms carried out
under the lead and guidance of Japan.
The government of Japan had made its
plans on a broad scale and was ready to
strike decisively at the critical time which
had now arrived Her primary purpose
was to drive Chinese troops from Corean
soil, the pivotal point of the contest being
the disputed right of either or both ma
tions to keep troops in Corea. Japan's
formal declaration of war was made on
Aug. B. but the hostilities actually began
several days earlier with the naval engage
ment in which the japanese fleet sunk the
trans port ship Kow-Shung and many Chi
nese troops were drowned. In her declar-
alton of war Japan said that her only pur-
pose had been to make Coreaan independ-
ent state, while China persisted in treat
ing her as a dependency and in interfering
in her domestic affairs for sinister purposes,
causing her people to fall into the hope
less state which has already been mention
ed. China's answer was, in substance,
that Corea had been her dependency and
had paid her tribute for POO years; that
troops had been sent there only to sup
press instructions, and that the "Wojen"
ian epithet for the japanese signfying
"pigmies" or "vermin') refused to listen
to reason, had broken treaties and were
guilty of many false and treacherous acts
toward Corea.
So vigorous and determined was Japan's
campaign that by the middle of September
the Chinese had been driven out of Corea,
and early in October an invasion of Chi
nese soil began, with Pekin as the object
i've point of the victorious Japs, unless
foreign interference puts an end to the war
before China suffers this crowning humili-
alton.