The sun., 1894-12-30

epbtoined!
Corea occupied for . long time An anomalou
position. Centuries ago she was the battlefield
of China and japan. Conquered now by one
and then BY tho other, her situation during th,
middle ages was anything but happy. Rich ir
natural resources, the originator or the most ex
pert practitioner Of some OF the principal East
srn arts and industries the hostility OF her pow
erful neighbors toward each other, as we'll as to-
ward herself reduced her In time 10 q most pit
liable condition. Then she entered upon period
Of comparative calm which lasted until within
. few years past. She secluded herself com
plctcly from the outside world, and
bccame In reality, rs well in name,
ths Hermit Kingdom" A handful OF
French missionaries, few Russian traders
upoa the extreme frontiers, and hardly greater
number OF Chineso, were the only foreigners
who ever visited Corca This policy OF seclusion
was supplemented Ivy deliberate attempt to
rcnder tho country as unattractve as possible,
and thus 70 present no inducement for foreign
aggression. There was no commerce worthy Of
che name; only an Insignificant overland trade
with China and some barter upon the Russian
frontier. Mining was made by law felony, tho
arts and manufactures for which Corea had
once been noted were allowed 10 DO forgotten,
and agriculture was not encouraged beyond the
absolute demand for food. The country thus
drifted into state Of stagnation, almost Of COM
plcto hamilton.
Nor was tho political condition less gloomy.
Nominally despotc monarchy. the Government
became really oigarchical. A few families
divided among themselves all the political
power and tho trtng spells, which could bo
gathered from an impoverished people. At
their Will kings were set up and pulled down,
and COrcAn politics Ceaacd he ming mi nrs
than a series Of palace feuds and intrigucs. The
people. with no inducemcnt to cxertion, de-
Jr!vod OF all opportunity for improvement,
naturally became indolcnt and mprovident and
sank into state Of passive and unQuestioning
obedience to those in power.
At the same time n curious relation grew up
between China and Corea. Some have termed
It suzerainty or vassalage, hut, as China has
always denied any responsibility for the acts OF
Corca. and has formally recognized her national
Independence. tho bond which connects the two
countries cannon well be defined by this or by
any other term recognized by ordinary usage.
That some sort OF relation exists between
tho two countries whereby China assumes
the right to dictate to Corea when It
pieases her, cannot however, be doubted.
1t seems to have no hrmer foundation than
the vanity OF China, and the belief OF Corca
that one nation may stand TO another in the
relation Of parent to child. Neither nation
gains anything by the bond which unites them,
but, on the contrary. in their dealings with
other nations both have been seriously embar-
raised on account Of it. Nor does either seem
10 be able TO perceive that the time for China's
ridiculous pretensions OF national superiority
and inferiority has passed. and that tho world
cannot long continue to tolerate a connection
Incapable OF dennition and fruitful of mischief.
or late years Corea has entered into treaty
relations with Soyeral hA h.s thna
ceased to be the 3" Hermit Kingdom" In name
at least But 1t must be confessed that the man
ner In which she has carried out her new role
has not been such as to warrant very sanguine
expectations as TO her future. Perhaps IL woald |
have been unjust TO expect better results from
so brief trial. yet the conclusion cannot be |
avoided that the opening OF Corea has been pro- |
ductive Of little hut disappointment.
Japan was the hrst nation in modern times TO |
enter into treaty relations with Corea. The |
cause was somewhat ominous, an attack BY a
Corean fort upon q Japanese man -of.war This |
was in 1874. Soon after. treaty was concluded.
and several ports were opened TO Japanese |
trade. The intercourse thus inauRurated bade |
fair to be advantageous to both parties. japan |
had learned by experience the value OF Western
methods and In her dealings with CorsA sought |
20 treat that country In the manner sanctioned
by the law of nations. CoreA found her ancient |
enemy changed in every particular. IL was
not the japan OF Taikosama's time, coming |
to ravags her shores and dssolate her pro-
vinoes, but q new Japan, with no design OF con.
quest and intent only upon securln q the b.nefits
OF peaceful intercourse. Perhaps the stolid and |
conservative Coreans with that fstuitous con-
ceit which they seem to have copied from the |
Chinese. looked upon their rsha bll,tatsd neigh
Dor with disfAvor; but At all events the relation.
OF the two countries continued undisturb.d untII |
1882. Then, In the course OF a political Im,,u,
ct SEOUL. the Japanese Legation was attacks "a.
Minister was Obliged to retreat from ths can't
tai, and even to put to see In an open