New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-26

| ing exhibited in one instance degree Of indie
pendence which they considered Objectionable.
| he was thrown into captivity for several years.
and released only to find himself shorn OF all MS
dignities He has long been awaiting ms oppor
tunty. andShe whirligg Of time has apparently
brought in his revcnges. lie is known 10 be
1ercey ambitious. and IN past years was utterly
without scruples In the pursuit OF his ends. MS
spirit is said TO be quite unlmpaired. notWth-
standing his extreme age. and under the re-
straints TO which he will probably be subjected
| his abilities may be turned TO the great benefit
of his country.
The next step taken BY the King 70 dis
| patch officer Of high rank to the japanese
Legation. with the requeat that the Envoy. Mr..
| Otori. should visit him without delay. No time
was lost In responding 10 this summons. and al
| though the details Of the interview which fol-
lowed have not been disclosed It's general charlc-
ter Is we'll understood In official circles. or the
King himself so little is known that'it would be
unwise to offer opinion as 10 the sincerity OF
his utterances on this occasion. He has hitherto
been represented as weak in spirit. II not I'm In
tellect. that his advisers have easily led him In
any desired direction, and inspired him with such
sentiments might be made serviceabe 10 their
purposes But ii Is reported on authority Which
can hardly be questioned that in his conversation
with Mr.. Otori. he declared. with strong empha-
sis and feeling that he had been the victim Of
false representations on every essential point in
tie controversies between his country and Japan.
He had been led 10 believe that the japanese
were resolved upon his deposition, II not upon the
sacrifice Of his life as a preliminary 10 the sub
iugation ard annexation OF the Kingdom. and
that his hope was in the strength and valor
OF China. He went so Tar 10 declare mat ne
had long had doubts on these subjects, though
conscious Of the danger OF expressing them. As
regards the motive Of these avowals. nothing
need now be said. We can read 1t better In the
light OF the future. But of the wholesale reversal
of the national policy there can be no question.
Mr. Otori remained at the palace during the
greater part OF the day. Before he left he saw
the Tai Won-Kun formally installed Prime
Minister. and instructed to introduce system
Of administrative reform In accordance with tho
plans previously submitted by the japanese Gov
10 al recei a Nr riff ION M 80
under the soveregns signature and seal. that
the social and political abuses under which the
nation had been Frustrated, and the liberties Of
the people suppressed, should come 10 an end as
soon as the proper machinery for eXtlrpating
them could be put In operation. In token Of his
good faith. the King issued a decree deposing
the entire body OF his councillors. and appoint
ing officials who are believed to be In sym
pathy with progressive principles. There
nothing 10 indicate that the monarch regarded
himself as under coercion On the contrary, he
appeared to welcome the order of events as
a relief from the suspense and anxiety from
which he had been suffering. For the execution
Of his pledges Japan will make herself response
BILE. II necessary; and with the knowledge Of what
this unhappy country has been in the deplorable
past, and what the new promise Of the future
means to civilization and humanity the 23d Of
July may reasonably and justly be designated
the day Of Coreas regeneration.
CONCILIATORY POLICY
The voice Of the foreign community is warm
in reclamation Of the moderation and self-re-
specting order with which the japanese proceed
ings have been conducted. A remarkable ex-
ample Of the reforms they propose to introduce
into the national institutions has already been
shown In the treatment Of the displaced Ministers
of the Crown. Under the old system they would
have been beheaded without the ceremony Of a
trial. They doubtless expected this fate. for II Is
thus that they have invariably dealt with all
their political adversares except the Tai Won
Kun. whose relationship TO the monarch alone
shielded him from destruction. The shocking
brutality with which they outraged the corpse Of
their murdered foe. Kim Ok-Kyun. typical
Of their methods. 1t was the intention Of the
Tai Won-Kun to celebrate his resumption OF
power by the wholesale slaughter OF the most
prominent Mings. He announced this purpose
as a matter Of course and, extraordinary as IL
may appear with apparent conviction that
the Japanese Envoy would be gratfed by the
news. He was made to understand that nothing
could be more odous to the japanese Govern
ment than the preparation Of such deed. and
the doom OF the condemned men was accordingly
modified They now on their way a safe
place Of exile. provided for them by the Power
they long noutcd and derded. OF "A similar
nature Ia the intervention of the japanese
preventative behalf OF the Corean Queen
This august and energetic lady. much more Of
politician than her royal consort, Is closely
bound by ties Of blood to the Mings and has
always been active IN support OF their cause.
Filled with the gravest anticipations she looked
at least for a decree OF Punishment and indeed,
the report OF her deposition twas circulated for