The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-08-10

The American people may not be
deeply interested in the ordinary iu-
ternal troubles Of Korea. The present
grave disturbance, however, threatens
to reopen the question Of the far East
on Korean soil. We are likely to
hear much about Korea in the next
few months, and it may be worth
while to shed a passing light upon
the scene and the actors engaged in
the drama.
1t is not very difficult to get at the
gist Of the trouble, though the cable
and mails have given little informa-
ton on the subject The same gem
eral causes and complications, how
ever, have produced all the uprisings
in Korea within the past fifteen years.
The only difference is that the present
instruction Is likely to result in far
reaching consequences Of worldwide
interest.
There are some elements in the
situation that look like the plot of an
opera bouffe, and if Korea were not a
land of surprising anomalies most
people would rub their eyes when
they read of some recent dOings there.
Here is an uprising of the peasantry
of Korea, a most patient and long
suffering people, often cut to the
quick by the ouerOus actions of the
ruling classes, and exploding Occa-
sionaNy when they cannot stand the
pressure any longer. As usual, they
have worsted the Government troops
in several engagements, and that is
not surprising, for Korean soldiers do
not shine in the military art.
~ ERRATIC RULER.
- usual, to, the king, who likes
to pose as an independent ruler, and
who makes treaties with foreign ma
tious in which there is rot the slight
est intimatiOn that he is really a
vassal Of China, sends post haste, as
he has done several times before, to
Ii Hung Chang, the great NicerOy,
implOring him to send Chinese troops
at once to his relief.
Almost simultaneously Japan, who
has large interest in the country,
though She has not had as much to do
with its Government as we have had
through the American advisors of the
king, lands about 10000 soldiers in
Korea, practically taking possession
Of Seoul, the capital, and its seaport
Chemulpo, badly soaring the king,
disturbing the composure of Russia
and China who make haste to tell
Japan that she had better mind her
own business and, at any rate, she
must keep her hands off Korea. We
may briefly describe the primal cause
of this turmoil and then the relations
to it of the various parties who are
taking hand in it.
The mountainous peninsula, jutting
out into the sea until it almost over
shadows Japan, occupies, strateget-
ically, a most pregnant and important
position, and this is one reason why
Russia has a consuming desire to get
hold of il. It's $4,000 square miles sup
port a population of about 100000
people, who are closely allied to the
Chinese in blood, language, laws and
religion. The soil Is fertile, though
only a small part of It has been turned
TO account. The mineral resources
are large, but still lie almost I'M
touched in the river valleys and on
the mountain sides.
RESULT OF EVIL GOVERNMENT.
The people, outside the governing
class, are wretchedly poor, and the
whole country is a conspicuous object
lessen, proving that naturally rich
land may be kept almost a bowling
wilderness by evil and corrupt gov
eminent. The great burden under
which the country staggers is that it
is taxed to death to support a vicious
official class.
In theory, the offices are the need
of those who have won literary dis
tinction in competitive examinations.
In practice, the examinations are a
hollow farce, and the offices 90 to
those who Will pay most for them.
There are officials without number,
from the Kings Councillors to the
Governors of Provinces and the mag
mates OF the villages and hamlets and
their chief business in life is to wiring
from the common people all the taxes
they can pay. \ large part of this
money clings to their own fingers as
the reward of offices that are pur-
chased, and, though the country
groaus under taxation, the Govern
ment is VIGOROUSLY impecuniOus.
This genteel, Office-hOlding class,
while agreeing that the common peo-
pie must support them without work,
is divided into the fiercest of factions
on other questions. There are more
genteel people than there are offices,
and at present the large party that is
struggling to get at the public crib is
led by the father of the King, an I'M
amiable old gentleman, who as regent
ruled the country with q rod of iron
during the minority of his son, and
whose prosecutions of the Christians
and all foreigners at last brought war
ships into COrean harbors and the re
sulting treaties.
THE POLITICIANS AT WORK.
Hating all foreigners, aud particu-
larly the Japanese, who are the pre-
dominating foreign element, the secret
agents employed, two months ago,
the double shibboleth, "DOwn with
the taX-gatherers, who Cypress the
people" and Turn out the foreigners,
who make all the money while we re-
main poor" The Korean peasant,
though patient under great griev-
ances, Is quick-tempered and Is apt to