Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-07-29
JAPAN AND COREA
An Intelligent History OF the Troubles
in the Hermit Kingdom by . Japanese.

An Intelligent History OF the Troubles
in the Hermit Kingdom by = Japanese.
Nev York Herald
The pending trouble In Corea had, as
its immediate cause, q sect or faction
known as Tong Hon, whose uprising the
Corean government WAS unable to sup
press. Not only the diplomatic and
commercial interests Of Japan and China
are at stake. but almost all European
and American powers ars affected to
some degree. This is the reason why
the American public should study the
situation closely SO as 70 understand tho
events taking place in that vast field Tor
their manufacture and industries.
The little kingdom Of Corea Is in size
q little less than three times the State
of New York, aud has about S.o00,00o
inhabitants. Her existence. although
through numberless vclssitudes and
fluctuations, is exceedingly old. The
present dynasty of Ii. which rules ao-
solutely, has been in power nearly 500
years. Agriculture is the main occupa-
ton OF the populace-rlce being export
ed to Japan in large quantities. Min
eral resources are said TO be abundant.
hut no accurate report on this point Is
known at present. 1t is fact that
there are some alluvial deposits with
gold sand and nuggets, but TO what ex-
tent we are not Informed. The country
as whole has become impoverished,
after centuries OF abuse and extortion
by the corrupt government and its off,
Gals.
TREATIES WITH JAPAN.
Corea opened her doors to the worlds
intercourse through the effort OF the
japanese in 1s76,sand since then she has
ratified treaties with most nations,
whose representatives are stationed In
Seoul, the capital. She opened Chem
ulpc, Fusan and Gensan fer foreign
trade. Since she took this decided step
her course has been OF rather stormy
nature. Internal troubles never ceased.
Conflicts and collisions between the
two parties, progressive and conserva-
tive, threatened her own independent
existence. The cruel and terrible coup
d'etat OF 1884 resulted In q complete de-
feat OF the progressives, whose leader,
Kim.ok-kium, fed to Japan, TO be assas-
sinated last spring, after ten years OF
refugee there.
The government in the hands OF the
conservatives did not accomplish re-
forms; the hereditary corruption exist
ed as before. General satisfaction at
last brought the two opposite elements,
the greedy and the patriotic, to units In
an effort to crush the present govern
ment, The name Tong Hon Eastern
School), given to the uprising sect, is
purely a scholastic one, the division OF
the East and South as two schools hav-
ing arisen among scholars some centu-
ries ago. The Ton party resorted to
force In order to overthrow the
present government, and as people were
weary and tired looking for some
thing better, the insurrection became
one OF an unusual size and gained
strength. The insurgent soldier wear
yellow turbans and the army carries
banners bearing such notices as mo
massacre" mo pludering;" "Alle-
glance to the King and observance OF
the precepts of Confucius;" peace and
prosperity to the peoples" Down with
Seoul aud get the government to re-
model it in purity and honesty"
When this body with these banners
appeared on the field, how did the gov
eminent act? Before we go further we
must know what kind OF an army Corea
has.
THE CoREAN ARMY.
Her standing army OF 6, 900 infantry
is In Seoul. A few small detachments
are stationed at outposts. The rifles
they use are modern and efficient, and
at present an American OF the name OF
Denny Is serving as military adviser
There is another body OF the army
STYLED the military colony, the list OF
which is something wonderfully large,
but has no real existence. The people
in general cannot be called good fight
ers, although they can bear or perform
the most cold blooded cruelties. Corea
has no navy OF modern style.
The Ton party marched toward Seoul
without much struggle or resistance
since the people welcomed them. pro-
viding them with rations and ammuni-
ton. Several attachments OF the 5000
them, but upon repeated defeats the
insurgents were within one hundred
miles OF Seoul with Increased force and
in better equipment. Seoul was In dan
ger and the King and his government
were at their wits ends. Urged by the
Chinese Minister, Yen, to request help
from Li.Hun-Chang. the famous CHI
nese ViceroY, the Corean governmental
last adopted this course.
ARRIVAL OF CHINESE TROOPS.
The request Of the Corean govern
m ent was what the cunning Ii was
seeking for, and early in June about
two thousand troops were landed at
Guasan, eighty miles from Seoul. The
reason for landing Chinese troops at this
particular spot is hard TO divine; prob
ably on account Of its abundant rice
storage. Meanwhile the Corean army
held its stand against the Ton party,
and no doubt the report OF the Chinese
he o must have cowed them. After
few days Of inaction at Guasan half the
troops started for the troubled district,
where skrmishes were going on.
THE TIES-TstN TREATY.
In accordance with the treaty known
as the Tien-Tsin treaty, between China
and Japan, Viceroy Ii notified the