The morning call., 1894-09-07

tainiy does not possess. The universal be-
lief In his lack of spirit and cleverness
seems to be we'll founded. His demon
stration is explained rather as signifyine
his delight at being relieved from an irk-
some restraint and his determination to
get even In some way with the men who
had kept him for years in leading strings
But 1t effectually disposes of the old
stories that he had nothing but hatred for
Japan, and would resist to the utmost
every attempt Of that empire to establish
its influence In the peninsula. Since the
day that he came in contact with the en-
voy he has shown every disposition to CO.
operate, so far as he is able, with the
movements for Korea's regeneration.
When the Japanese army returned vic
torious 10 Seoul, bringing with them the
captured arms and standards, he sent a
deputy especially to welcome and con-
gratulate them.
He has appointed a Commissioner to
visit Japan and thank the Emperor for the
promise of peace and a stable governme Mt
to his country, and he has formally re-
nounced the suzerainty of China and pro-
claimed his intention TO assert his inde-
Dendence and equal ty in all future deal
ings with that nation. Unless Japan fails
utterly in the war the yassalage OF the
past will never be renewed.
The political and local reforms which
Japan demands are designed not only to
prevent China from interfering hereafter,
but also to give the whole peo;le of Korea
opportunity and power to improve their
condition and to prepare the country for
the introduction OF Western civilization.
Several of them have already been decreed
and put in force. These are the adoption
Of new royal title which, though still
meaning king in English, shall carry with
it no Specification of infeIiority TO a higher
monarch as was previously the case; the
establishment of a thorough Girlomatic
service under which ministers shall be
sent TO all treaty states; the eligibility to
Office OF all classes without distinction of
rank; restrictions upon public expendi-
lures, and periodical announcements of
revenues and disbursements; reduction in
the number Of national employees; abso-
lutte freedom of religion; abolition of
slavery and all kinds Of enforced labor
prohibition of cruel or excessive punish
ments and immediate abrogstion of the
law permitting punishment of the entire
family of criminal however innocent: ::
authorization of widows TO remarrv. and
of all persons TO marry according to their
choice without parental compulsion
Other reforms are under consideration and
every citizen is permitted to offer the com.
mittee proposals for the general welfare.
The Japanese Government has taken all
precautions TO guard Chinese residents
against mOlestatiOn or annoyance. The
imperial decree guaranteeing their secur.
ity was issued early this month, and
orders for their protection have been sent
all over the empire. Not single case of
i'll treatment is reported. In China a
different state of things exists. The shops
of merchants are broken open, their con-
tents pillsged and the owners beaten and
manned. From every port stories of rob-
berry and violence are received. The out
RACES are not committed on private citi-
zens alone. When the japanese Consul at
Tientsin left the town he embarked,
with his family, on a British steamer for
Shanghai. This ship was invaded, not by
a mob but by a force of Chinese soldiers,
who seized not only the men OF the party
but also the ladies and the female attend
ants, and carried them with their baggage
TO the barracks, some distance away,
where they were detained all night. The
ladies were roughly handled, ornaments
being torn from their hair. No explana-