The Indianapolis journal., 1894-07-28


of what she regards as China's impudent
claim TO vassalage. And aru strengthened
in this view by the fact that the present
advisers of the King of COrea were both
attracted into that service from Japan.
The first. General lie Gendre, for
many years associated with the State De-
partment Of that empire. He was prOmi-
nent in their Formosa trouble. and IL may
be safely concluded that the influence OF
this SCARED American general, who is OF
French extraction, was toward Japan and
against China. To Mr.. Greathouse, eX-
United States consul-general to Japan, now
also in the Corean Kings service. the wis
dom of such policy of stemming Chinese
aggression and thwarting Russian design
for a naval seat at the key of Asia must
also have asserted itself in any influence he
COREA WANTS INDEPENDENCE.
Residence in Japan and acquaintance
with the determination of the sturdy min
listers who lifted her from feudalism and
isolation into civilized renown tell that
her representative in England makes no
empty threat when he says that she is not
to be frightened from her purpose of reform
and retention of independence by Chinese
threat or by repetition of the time
lichened claim of suzerainty. 1t is an old
story and goes back TO almost traditional
date. Not necessary is ii now to discuss
the fabric of that demand or vassalage.
Any virtue ii may have possessed has
lapsed and if indeed Corea remains a
tributary state of China such relations
cannot be said to affect sovereign and in
dependent rights; and as to the payment of
tribute. China was paid tribute on account
ala ai by fb 3Tr e The but rsb fa5
empire; and to refute the assertion that
Corea is dependent state. il is but neces-
sary TO point TO the treaties she has ex-
ecuted with Japan and western powers.
These covenants of navigation, friend
ship and commerce were entered into in
dependently or China. and such an act
surely Is not that Of vassal state. This,
TO my mind. is an unerring test of SOW
ereignty and independence. 1t is true that
in the case of the covenant with the United
states government the Chinese Niceroy
did urge some such contention of suzer-
ainty; but that view was secuted, and the
treaty signed on the same basis as those
with other Independent powers The Li-lto
the right to send troops to Corea without
the consent of Japan. Space precludes the
statement of many other evidences op-
ways been stoutly contested by the Jap
anese. Indeed, their treaty concluded in
February. 1876 states that: 'Corea. being
sovereign rights as does Japan and that
their intercourse shall thenceforward be
carried on In terms OF equality and
Passage of time often brings round op-
appropriate that Japan should Intervene in
the interest of the well-beng of Corea
While the former has progressed. the lat
Corea has left an indelible mark of en-
| ightened influence on Japan. Ages ago
shed nd Ser Sert her scholars S rs her photographers
| In the year 23, one Wani Corean
scholar. instructed the Emperors SON.
| thither, tailors followed in Al. architects
twenty years later. and learned men with
| quently there immigrated doctors OWNERS
astronomers, mathematicians Buddhist
missionaries, ncisns f: bringing with them arts.
wave of foreign civilization
| Now Japan; according to her story seeks
bo,ed fo e9 tS SSomethng eth , in return. 1t is to be
nopeu the END Will be attained pacifically:
but: in the event of clash of arms there
| is little doubt as to the result. Numerical
| drilled and of Indifferent material. ON tba
other hand. the Japanese are born sailors
annir9 ana soldiers Her military force is highly
trained, admirably armed, and has for
years absorbed the best instruction tbe
west can give; and her well-manned navy
does not stand a lower point of excei
lence. OF the men in the lattersbrancb nf
| the service, Captain Ingles r. N once
SAID SAID that he hardly knew how to find fault
wifi elther oTcerS or crew. Thus Janan
possesses all the elements necessary FOR -
| successor maintenance of the position she
| which China may we'll first hesitatS a,Ie
hnally submit. and thus close a din, IItv Ttt[
| M Mwnlcn seems to have reached a stage or
JAPAN SPOILING FOR WAR
Some late news in regard TO the Corao,
| situation has been received from, bis hon.
| by Mr.. Okamoto. the polite and accom-
pished Oriental who presides over the
japanese department at Forbes & WalIacA's
store He says that the general sentiment
IN Japan Is very strongly in favor of war
ana that his countrymen are burning TO
wipe out some old scores with China that
nave been accumulatng for generations
pdck- Inc great tight would have taken
pIace Iohg since were it not for the fact
.iiat eaeh natlon has been so engrossed in
| science that it felt itself i'm a state Of nm
readiness to declare war. In Japan everv
thing is now ready and leaders and neonia
| feel that there will never be more advan-
| tage0uS time to settle the feud Like Great
| Britain. the island kingdom of the East will
put most trust in the navy. There are thir-
| ty-hve steam vessels of 81. .763 tons displace-
| ment, equipped with S24 guns of improved
european manufacture. The Chinese navy
| mas many more ships, but the tonnage and
| armament are inferior. In land forces also
| CHINA is superior in numbers japan in
| quality. The former has over a million men
| but only 3SIOOO are available for service
| while Japans standing army of go 900 men
| can quickly be increased TO 500.0OO Japan is
| further advanced also in that il has native
| ofhcers thoroughly well trained. while China
| is altogether dependent on foreigners There
| are few Europeans still engaged in the
/ Japanese military schools as instructors but
| their places are being taken by Japanese
as rapidly as possible. After the Franco
| ties have spared no pains to get the latest
| military ideas. Some fine ships have been
| built i'm Japan while China is still depend
1 ent on the West.
| While Japan hopes for success at sea- in
| case of war, in spite of the overhauling
| given their navy by the Chinese since their
| defeat by the French. she is less sanguine
| in regard to land engagements. although
| confident of holding her own and preventing
| invasion. The immense territory and popu-
| lation of China make a war of conquest
| difficult, even for the leading European pow
| ers, but Japan hopes at least to maintain
| her rights in COrea. About ten years ago.
| says Mr.. Okamoto the two powers were
| about as near conflict as they are to-day
| and he remembers distinctly the sensation
| caused by the attack on the Japanese min
| istry in Corea by Chinese soldiers in dis
| guise who mingled with the crowd In the
| present crisis, he says. nothing has stirred
| up the japanese people SO much as the de-
| coying and assassination last spring of the
| Corean refugee. Kin Gioku Kin. to whom
| Japan had guaranteed protection. Prepara-
tions have long been making for war and
| the whole army is ready for rapid mobiliza- =
| ton. In event of hoStiltieS the leadship of
| the Japanese army will fall TO his HighnesS
| AriSugawa one of the royal princes. He
| Is not a trained soldier. but will be assisted
| by staff officers Of experience. War is
| specially desired in Japan. says MIR. Okla
| moto. i'm the hope that il will help to unite
| the two hostile parties, the literary and the
| military, which are at present engaged in q