The herald., 1894-09-07

eminent had publicly attributed to him.
In token OF his sincerity he had already
rid himself of his late council. and sum-
moned Tai Won Kun to assist him in
forming new administration. Before
the day was over. q cabinet made up OF
the radical opponents OF the Ming fac
ton had been installed, with Tai Won
Kun as prime minister, and a committee
of IL appointed to reorganize the admin
istrative system and reform the national
laws, upon basis recommended by
Japan. Such activity and energy had
never before been witnessed since the
foundations OF the Corean monarchy
were laid.
THE KINGS SINCERITY.
The extraordinary promptness OF the
king in asserting to every proposition
put forward by the Japanese envoy
might have laid him open to the suspi-
cion OF seeking merely to conciliate the
newcomers and to avert their luminosity
by unconditional submission, but for the
discovery OF an action on his part en-
tirely inconsistent with any secret SEN
timent of ill-will. As soon ga the out
going cabinet had left the palace, aud
without waiting to consult his new
council, he called together the command
ers Of the few troops remaining at
his disposal and ordered them instantly
to join the japanese army on the
way to attack the Chinese at Asan.
He was not instigated to do this by
anybody. No one expected it OF him,
and no one was more surprised than
the Japanese representative when he
heard of it. To suppose that the king
was actuated by motives OF policy.
would be to credit him with sagacity
which he certainly does not possess.
The universal belief in his lack OF spirit
and cevernees seems to be well founded.
His demonstration 10 explained rather
as signifying his delight at being relieved
from an irksome restraint and his de-
termination to ''get even" in some way
with the men who had kept him
for years in leading strings. But
it effectually disposes of the old
stories that he had nothing but
hatred for Japan, and would
resist to the utmost every attempt OF
that empire to establish it's influence in
the peninsula. Since the day that he
came in contact with the envoy he has
shown every disposition to cooperate, so
far as he is able, with the movements
for Cereals regeneration. When the
Japanese army returned victorious TO
Seoul, bringing with them the captured
arms and standards, ne sent deputy
especially to welcome and congratulate
them. He has appointed commissioners
to visit Japan and thank the emperor
for the promise of peace and stable
government to his country, and he has
formally renounced the suzerain5y OF
China and proclaimed his intention to
assert his independence and equality in
all future dealings with that nation.
:. Unless Japan fails utterly in the war the
vaesalage OF the past will never be re-
newed.
JAPAN's PROPOSED REFORMS.
The political and social reforms which
Japan demands, are designed not only
to prevent China from interfering here.
after, but also to give the whole people
OF Corea opportunity and power to i'm
prove their condition, and to prepare
the country for the introduction OF
western civilization. Some Of them
have already been decreed' and put in
force. These are:
The adoption of a new royal title
which, though still meaning king in
English. shall carry with it no signih-
cation OF inferior.ty to a higher mon
arch, as WAS previously the case; the
establishment OF, q thorough Diplomatic
service, under which ministers shall be
sent to ell Treaty states; the eligibility
to office of all classes, without distinc-
ton OF rank; restrictions upon public
exp enditures, and the periodical
announcement OF revenues and disburse-
ments; reduction in the number OF ma
tional employees; absolute freedom OF
religion; abolition OF slavery and ali
kinds OF enforced labor; prohibition OF
cruel or excessive punish ments, and the
immediate abrogatlsn OF the law per-
uniting the punishment OF the entire
family of criminal, however innocent;
authorization of widows to remarry, and
OF all persons to marry according to
their choice, without parental compul-
sion. Other reforms are under consid.
Grafton, and every citizen ia permitted
to offer the committee proposals for the
general welfare.
CHINA'S WAR POLICY.
The policy of China in all wars has
been to play waiting game and to
buuoi q Cof bhlh VI INJURY WIN
out retaliation in the hope OF exhaust
ing the enemy. With this view, al
though her navy is much superior to
that OF Japan, she withdrew all her
chips from tho open aea Immediately
after the first blow had been struck in
the bay OF Asan and secluded them in
strongly fortified stations like Port
Arthur and Wei Hai-We. But even in
these retreats the fleets are G constant
menace to Japan and an expedition WAS
planned on August 7th for an advance
upon Wei HaiWei, near Che Foo.
where it was supposed large
squadron was lying in hiding.
Tue Japanese ships reached their
destination at midnight. August 9th.
AS they approached, signs OF activity
were perceived in the dim light, but it
was not believed that many OF the enc
my had time to escape. nor was it
thought they would wish to avoid a con-
test, being greatly in the majority. An
attack with torpedoes was prepared, but
when daylight came, no Chinese vessels
were in sight. They had all flown to
another resort. A few shots were ex-
changed with the forts, but as the
movement contemp plated no engagement
with batteries on Hhore, the Japanese
fleet returned to the coast OF Corea.
JAPANESE PRECAUTIONS.
A visit to Port Arthur was debated,
owing to the fact that the harbor ia &C
~ l. a. l..