, 1894-08-18
TIE DISTURBANCES IN KOREA.
(From an occasional correspondence

nlrg as a local Instruction 1T has made head.
way against all opposition, and now one en-
tire province of the eight composing the realm
10 said to be in the hands of rebels. The in
surtectionists are braided by the Government
as long ilak, who exactly one wear ago occa-
stoned 50 much excitement by their efforts in
Sodl to secure Royal recognition and a rever-
sal OF the DEGREES against them. They were
un'ucce"stul then, and disappeared from the
scene, little being heard of them, except occa-
sional reports that the Government had clp-
tured and imprisoned members Of tho Tong
Hak. Tong Hak means the "E .stet "a" or
''Korean school, ard the expression National
party IS a fair English equivalent OF their
native name. They consist Of a body Of men
especially numerous in the south. who are IN
tenseIy dissatisfied with the present conii-
ton OF Affairs, and have united for the pur-
pose OF securing a reformation. AS no official
proclamation OF their principles and aims has
been made, it is impossible to tell precisely
what kind of reforms they desire, and this
clouds the whole question with uncertainty,
Tor no one can say whether such reforms will
be progressive and introduce any permanent
relief 10 the existing evils or not. Their war
cry Is "horea for ever" and their efforts for
the present are directed against the existing
order OF things. An unauthenticatod procla-
nation speaks of his Majesty in indefinite
terms as d righteous Sovereign, but surround
ed by unrighteous and INSCRIPTIONS mobiles
and officials. 1t then takes up the burning
question which has filed the people with in
dIgnatlon ever since it first became known.
They charge the councillors Of hisMaiesty with
having made the Government an article of
merchandise for their personal enrichment,
with having degraded and dishonOured the
great bulwark OF a competent administration,
the Civil Service examination, and with plac-
ing over the people extortionate officials, who
employ all means, legal and illegal. for en-
riching themselves at the expense of the peo-
pie. In this they have touched the weakest
point In the Korean Administration. Without
cOdlhed laws or a delimitatioh Of official pow
er. administrative officers who have been CO.
rupted BY the very process by which they
have obtained office use for their own enrich
ment all the vast power they have obtained
by purchase. The whole official machinery
has been so long diverted to these base pur-
poses that what was once so honorable in the
. peoples eyes has become odious. Affording
no constitutional means Of obtaining redress
for official wrong and oppression, the Govern
ment drives its people TO appeal to force of
arms.
For the past three years and more local in
surrectlons have been the rule throughout
Korea Hard y a province has been free from
them, but the Government, blind to these I'M
mlstakhble omens of coming danger, had par
sued its suicidal policy until it has borne it's
natural fruits. For the past five months the
southern province of Chulla has been uA-
quiet and disturbed. A general ferment has
been at work among the people, who, instead
of carrying on their usual farming operations
have apparently been awaiting some such OPP
portunity rs the present. They have assem-
bled at certain centres, and the local mauda-
rims have been powerless to dispense them.
Arms have disappeared from some of the
G%rsenals, and certain magazines have been
riaed Of their contents. Thus supplied with
ammunition, the people in arms have not
Only successfully resisted all official efforts to
suppress and dispense them, but have been
also successful in certais offensive operations
against the Government. Attacks were made
especial on procedures where the officials had
by their conduCt %alienated the people; and cap
tured granarieS and storehouses have furnish
ed supplies sufficient to maintain the struggle
for some time to come. The popular
sympathies already excited by the supposed
Justice Of their cause have been increased by
the generosity of the insurgents towards
want and suffering wherever met with. This
stand in direct Contrast to the conduct of
the Government troops, who, with but small
cnOp1inc Of foOd Il oyQ- hoo, ouortoral ~, H.