Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-06
SITUATION IN COREA
No Word From the Baltimore in Regard
to the Outbreak.
At the Navy Department No News IL
Looked Upon as Good News-A
GunbOat's Influence.

"A CdDlc UcSSdSc WAS TeCelNeu Ut tue
Navy Department today announcing the
arrival Of the U. S. S. Baltimore at Che
mu:po Corea. yesterday, but saying nothing
with regard to the state Of affairs. Silence
on this point is accepted in official circles as
an indication that affairs are not in very
alarming condition and that the American
residents of the country are certainly not
in any imminent danger from the recent
reported uprising against the foreign ele-
ments. The presence of a warship in
Corean waters will undoubtedly insure the
safety Of foreign residents. 1t is also ex-
pected that the visit Of the Baltimore will
have a deterrent effect on the rebellion
aginst the Corean government, If 1t does
not check it entirely.
1t was Undoubtedly this hoped-for re-
suit that mainly inspired the King of Corea
to request the United States government to
send warship TO Corea Immediately, rath-
er than his intense personal interest in the
welfare OF the eighty Americans doing busi-
ness in mis- kingdom. Therefore, IL the mere
presence of the Baltimore turns the tide of
affairs in favor of the government it would
seem as though the king would have cause
to thank the United States for it's acti IN,
rather than that the United States should
thank him for notifying IL that he could no
longer protect its citizens. The published
statement that the President would send the
KING a vote of thanks for his timely warn
ing does not seem to be warranted by the
surrounding circumstances
The Number of Americans.
1t is said at the Navy Department that
the Baltimore will remain at Corea as long
as there is any occasion for it. Several ex-
cellent reasons are advanced for American
intervention in the present Corean crisis.
In the first place, there are in Corea prob
oh hlyy oh O,un
ity of whom are Americans. An enumera-
ton taken last June gave 40 Americans at
Seoul. at Chemulpo, 3 at Fonsan, and =
at Wonson, making 20 in all. The English
numbered 40. the French % the Germans
%. the Russians 13, and various Europeans
l.. The duty of protecting the persons and
property of Americans is therefore obvious
The telegram received by the Coreans
admits that the insurgents hold possession
of the southernmost province of Corea and
this brings them within a few days march
not only of Seoul, but of the three open
pGrts Just mentioned. where the remainder
or the white foreigners are found. For
tunately there is some telegraphic COM
Eunication between Seoul and other points
and submarine wire from Fonsan to Ma
&c Saki.
Some Former Experiences.
a second reason for such intervention is
that its value has been shown by expert
ence. 1t may be recalled that last year the
Marion. and afterward the Alert at that
time belonging TO the Asiatic station visited
Chenulpo, and there was good evidence
that the move had a most beneficial effect
IN protecting American rights and interests
in COrea
The regular troops Of the Corean army
are said to number only about 100 men,
IN population of perhaps 7,j00.Oo0 souls,
anu although no doubt other forces could
De raised, yet the sending of an America II
Warship TO Chemulpo Will be appreciated
me army is organized and armed in
modern fashion.
This leads to a third consideration. which
is that the cause OF civilization and prog
ress including the perpetuation of Ameri-
can influence in CCrea, may be involved in
the present troubles. The dispatches indi-
cate the fact that the revolutionary move
ment is ant-foreign. and that the party
now in revolt is opposed To the liberal
policy adopted by the king. He still has
twa Americans as councillors. and his
special friendship for the United States has
frequently been manifested. He has been
thirty years on the throne, but he has not
pursued the policy which was in vogue
when he came into power.
4 Progressive King.
On the contrary, it was he that opened
the hermit kingdom, as il was once well
called, from its strict isolation, to Euro
pean and American powers His first
treaty of commerce was made with our
country in lSS2. others with Great Britain
and Germany following the next year. with
Italy and Russia in 1854, and with France
in lSS6. When he sought to procure a full
acknowledgment of the autonomy Of Corea
he began by sending embassy to Wash
ington. He called in American officers to
organize and drill his troops and took as
his chief adviser fo- many years an Amer
lean, while, as has been said there are
still Americans in the council of state
When last year Secretary Herbert caused
Rear Admiral Harmony 20 send the Marion
to Chemulpo, as an outbreak against the
Christians wds feared. her officers on going
up to Seoul found the royal troops drilling
under orders delivered in English with
rifles of American manufacture. American
inventions are found at the capital, includ-
ing lighting by electricity. and Americans
conduct a school, an orphanage and a hos
pitaL The Presbyterian missionaries, num-
berinS, II Is said, over twenty, have been at
work there for some thinD Ike nine venrs