The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-07-05
THE KOREAN REBELLION
Oppression Of the Agricultural
Classes the Cause--Strange
Leaders.

II VANCOUVER, B. c., July s, lS94.-The
Empress of China, which arrived yesterday,
brings the following foreign advices:r-
Korean affairs occupy the greater part Of
the space in all the English speaking papers
brought in by the steamer Empress of
China, which arrived yesterday. A writer
in the Japan Herald on Tune %, says
1.-THE cause of the agrarian insurrection in
Korea, has been the frighUtul oppression of
the peasantry by the official classes. 1t has
always been the custom in the country to
farm out the highest magistrates to the
highest bidders. who are then permitted to
recoup themselves by squeezing the districts
committed to their charge. In ordinary
times this does not work so badly es might
be expected for an official has generally two
on three years in which to recoup himself.
and is able to spread bis extortions over a
considerable period of time, but of late the
necessities of the time, and the establishing
OF a costly army and navy like those OF
Japan, have entailed great expense on tho
Central Government, who, as q result, nave
been obliged to sell their officials at shorter
intervals and at higher prices, and III eonse-
quence the officials, knowing that their time
was short, nave come down with great
wrath upon their subofdinates and exact the
utmost farthing.
THE LEADERS.
1.-THE rebellion, therefore, seems to be one
that has the amplest justification, and the
general hope of foreigners IS that Its final
result may be the establishment of a better
system of government. Its leaders are
men of worth and problty, and Its methods
of procedure worthy of all commentator.
The Chief General is a man of e~ighty-nlne
years of age. and a skilful bowman. His
second in command is a lad OF fourteen,
whose precocious sagacity and bravery have
woa for him the devotion of his fellows, who
reverence him as if he were a God. b
third in command is a skilful swordsman, a
Japanese, who has earned a reputation Tor
the havoc his blade commits in the ranks OF
the foe. These three seem to have established
a very fair dicipline amongst them.
REVOLT SPREADING.
t'They come as the friends of a down
trodden people. respecting the property OF
those amongst whom they come, ane this IS
continually increasing the number or their
adherents, and gaining the secret sympathy
of those in districts still in the hands OF the
Government. Badly armed aud provisioned
at first, they have now abundance OF arms
and provisions, since one OF the primer
Tell into their hands, TIL move
ment has so far met with unbroken
success, and the instruction soldiers now al
most stand at the Capital Seoul. Under
these circumstances the Korean Minister ap-
piled to China for aid against the rebels, an
application which was at once granted. For
some years it has been the Chinese practice
Korea, who recently followed various
trades, but were in reality a reserve force
ready for action at short notice. With the
aid of these and of ether forces dispatched
subsequently there is little doubt that the
Government of Korea would shortly awe
been able to remain in power, and
then hopes of a reformation would
China was not the only ac-
tor on the scene, for, unbidden by Korea,
and much to the displeasure of China, the
Japanese Government resolved to interfere,
and under the pretext of looking after its
national interests, has dispatched q consld-
cradle force to the Peninsular. This
force is much greater than is re-
CURED for purposes of protection for
the five thousand Japanese in Korea
do not need a force of ten thousand troops
and several iron-clads to protect their IN
terests. 1t is evident from the number OF
troops sent and from the strict secrecy which
has been employed by the japanese Gov
eminent and the silence imposed upon the
native press, that something more Is IN
tended than the mere protection of her sub
~iects."
ERNAL SQUEEZING.
Speaking on the Korean subject, the Kobe
Herald says official squeezing has become so
merciless in Korea that productive arms
are everywhere deserted, and the oppressed
farmers either emigrate to China OF Russia
or join the bands of robbers that obstruct
what little traffic there is, in the country.
! he so-called rebels would undoubtedly sue
coed if let alone. but China, the external foe
to the welfare of Korea. China h has
forced tribute from Korea since
two thousand, B.. c., will do all
she can to help put down the
instruction. The rising, we may predict,
will soon come to an end and serve only to
add another chapter of torture, death, i'm
prisonment, confiscation and Punishment to
the ignominous annals of dark destined
Korea"
A Shanghai paper says:-'eThere is an
agreement between China and Japan that
neither power shall send troops into Korea
without the consent of the other. and it is
therefore hoped these troops are sent by
mutual consent. 1t seems improbable, how
ever, that the two powers, SO Jealous of each
other. can avoid a conflict under the cir
cunlstances."
1t is generally reported that a Russian
force has been despatched into Korea. the
number of soldiers in tho vicinity of Vladi-
vostock is about 1000, and Russia has
twelve war vessels on that station besides
six steamers of the volunteer feet. 1t is
probable that some of these men of war a
been despatched to Korea.