The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-09-13
WHERE COREA STANDS.
THE KING REGULATES CHINA
AND JOINS JAPAN.
He Has Been In the Hands Of His Caoi'
net, VINO Side With China, But as
Soon as He Was Free He
Showed His Preference.

cisco, Sept. 6.-Since the last ulspatcu
to America circumstances have oc-
Cured which throw much light on
the disputed questions as to which side
in the war was favored by the king oil
CoreA. The lower classes in that
country have no opinions on political
subjects. If the middle classes have
any they are not allowed to express
them. Even the ari5tocracy have
learned the necessity of keeping
silence, if their views are opposed to
those of the e governing body. The
only ice hitherto heard has been
that of the ministry, a corrupt mon
archy composed OF the Ming family
and their dependents, who
are completely under the con-
troll of China. 1t has been
to their interest to represent that
the sovereign was heartily in accord
with them and until the last few
weeks their assurances 10 this effect
have been generally accepted as true.
The queen, who Ia blood relation OF
The Mings, is undoubtedly under the
influence OF China, and as she is
understood to be greatly superior to
her COMFORT in intellect and force OF
character her power to impress her
ideas upon him has been easily credit
ed that the Mings acting really in the
kings name and with his sanction
was not seriously questioned up to
the time when the Chinese diplomatic
agent in Seeul deserted his post and
left the court free from surveillance.
Then the Japanese envoy received a
message from the kings father, sug-
gestiug that if an interview could be
arranged in the palace his son could
be induced to recognize the justice and
friendliness of Japanese intention
without much difficulty. The kings
father, officially known az the Tai
Won Kuu, was at one period the
r gent of the country, but through
the intrigues Of the Ming7 he'was de-
posed some 10 years ago and condemn
ed to long captivity. After his lib
Grafton no was forbidden to approach |
the court but that he kept watch"
ful eye upon the course OF events, IS
proved by the accuracy Of his state |
ment representing the sovereign. The |
Japanese envoy at once insisted upon |
the monarch personally and |
under conditions that would enable |
him to speak his mind with
out restraint. Being denied this pri-
vilege by the kings advisers he deter
m ned to inter view him himself with
"a h..
ment from the Japanese troops OUT
side the city. AS this small guard
passed. by the palace going TO the en-
voy's residence 1t was fired upon by
Jorean soldiers in the service of the
Mings. These shots sealed the fate OF
he ministry. The troops were dis
Dersed with scarcely struggle, and
IN hour later the report was correct
hat Japan was in amicahle converse
ion with the sovereign, who did not
hesitate to declare that he had been
under coercion ever since the begin
ming of the imbroglio with China and
that he was tar from feeling the hos
tility toward Japan which that gov"
had publicly attributed to
him In his sincerity he had already
rid himself of his lafe council and
summoned the Tai Won Kan to
assist him In forming a new admins"
tration. Before the day was over n
cabinet made up of radical opponents
of the Ming faction and had been in
stalled with the Tai Won Kun as
prime minister and committee OF II
to re.Orgsnize the administrative
system and reform the national laws
upon a basis recommended by Japan.
Such activity and energy had never
before been witnessed since the found
alton of the Corean monarchy was laid
The extraordinary promthess of the
kirg in asserting to every PROPOSE
ion put forward by the Japanese en-
voy might have laid him open to the
suspicion of seeking merely TO con-
ollate the new corners and to avert
their luminosity by unconditional sub
mission, but for the discovery OF an /
action on his part entirely inconsist-
emit with any secret sentiment OF i'll
will. As soon a. the outgoing
cabinet had lett the palace, and
waiting 20 consult his
new council, he called tOgethe" the
of the few troops remain.
lDR ~ LIS leDOSoI t'lh hhVLh
to join the Japanese army
On the way to attack the Chinese at
san. He was no. instigated to do
his by anybody. No one expected it
If him and no one was more surprised
han the Japanese representative
when he heard of it. To suppose the
king was actuated by motives Of poll
cy would be to credit him with q
Iagacity which he certainly does not
possess. The universal belief in his
ack of spirit and cleverness seems to
le we'll founded. His demonstration
) explained rather as signifying his
ielight at being relieved from al irk-
ome restraint and his determination
o get even in some way with the men
Who had kept him for years in lead.
rs strings.
But it etfectually destroys the old
tories that he has nothing but hatred
or the japanese aud would resist to
he utmost every attempt Of Japar 10
stabIish its Influence in the peninsu
a. Since the dsv he came in contact
With the envoy he has shown a dis
osition to co-ope ate 80 far as he is
bic with the movements Of Cores's /.
egenera ion. With the Japanese
rmy returned victorious to Seoul,
with them the captured arms
nd standards, he sent a deputy to
,elcome and congratulate them. He
O nn.ppoiasinnar IN yili !