The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-09-15
RULERS OF coREA.
h King Has Always Been Friendly t.

bAo mig AAhD Always neen NFlen0ly e.
JaPan--Coerced by Relatives.
YOKOHAMA, Sept. s.-Since the last
dispatch of news to America circum.
%staneos have occurred which throws
much light on the long disputed ques-
lion as to which side in the war was
favored by the king of Corea.
The lower classes in that country
lave no opinions on political subjects.
II the middle class has any it is not
allowed to express them. Even the mr.
stocracy has learned tine necessity of
Keeping silence If its views are opposed
10 the governing body.
The only voice hitherto heard has
been that of tho ministry. a corrupt
monarchy, composed of the Ming fam
ly ard their dependents, who are com.
pletely under the control of China. II
aas been to their interest to rep esent
that the sovereign was heartily in nc
cord with them, and until the last few
weeks their assurarc to this effect
have beea generally accepted as true.
The queen, wao is a blood relation
Df the Mings, is undoubtedly under
The influence Of China, and as she is
understood to be greatly superior to
her consort in intellect und
.orce of character, her power to
IMPRESS her ideas upon him has been
easily credited. That the Mings acted
really IN h kings name and with his
SANCTION was not seriously questioned
ap to the time when the Chinese dlplo-
nat ngent in Seoul deserted his rost
and eft the court free from suryeil-
Gance.
Ihen ohe Japanese ellyoy received a
nessnge from the kings father, sug.
resting hat if IN interview could be
arranged in the palace his son could he
induced to recognize the Justice and
~friendliness of Japan's intention with
put much ditfiulty. The kings father,
officially known as Tai-Won- Kun, vas
Mt Il time the regent of the
but through the intriEues of the Minps
he was deposcd some ten years ago and
condemned to n long captivity.
After his liberation he was forbidden
to approach the court, but that he kept
u watchful eye upon the course of
events is proved by the accuracy of his
statements respecting the sovereign.
The Japanese envoy at once insisted
upon meeting the monarch personally
and under conditions that should en-
able him to speak his mind without re-.
straint.
Being denied this privilege by royal
advisers, he determined to present him
self with an armed escort, and sent for
a detachment from the Japanese forces
outside the city. AS this small guard
passed by the palace, on tho way to
the ENJOYS residence. it was fired upon
by Coresn soldiers in the %servics of the
Mings.
These shots settled the fate of the
ministry. The native troops were dis
persed with scarcely n struggle, and an
hour later the representative of Japan
was IN amlcable conversation with the
sovereign, who did not hesitate to de-
clare that he had been under coercion
ever since the beginning of the i'm
broglio with China, and that he vas
lar from feeling the hostility toward
Japan which his government had pub
!!icly attributed to him.
In token of his sincerity he had al
'eady rid himself of his late council
and summoned the Tai Won-Kun to
assist him in forming q new
administration. Before the day was
over a cabinet made up of radical
opponents of the Ming faction had been
Installed with Tai-Won-Kun as prime
minister, and a committee Of seventeen
appointed to recognize the administra-
hon on tho system recommended by
Japan.
Such activity and energy had never
before boon witnessed since the foun-
iations of the Corean monarchy were
aid.
The extraordinary promptness of the
sing in asserting to every PROPOSE
ion put forward by tho Japanese
,nvoy might have laid him open to
che suspicion of seeking merely
70 conciliato the new comers, and to
vert thoir animosity by unconditional
submission, but for tho discovery of an
teton on his part entirely inconsistent
with any secret sentiment of i'll will.
AS soon as the outgoing cabinet had
eft the palace, and without waiting to
consult his new council, he called to-
yether tho commanders of the few re-
manning troops at his disposal and or.
dered them instantly to join the Japan
csc army on the way to attack tho
Chinese Mt Asan.