The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-06
COREAN MIDDLE.
A New Light Thrown on the Subject
BY Late AdviCes.

Especial corres spondence per Steamship Peru.1
YOKOHAMA, Aug. 24.-Since the last
dispatched news to America circumstances
have transpired, which throw much light
on the long disputed question as to which
side in the war was favored by the King
of Corea. The people in Corea have no
opinions on political subjects, or il they
have any, they are not allowed to express
them.
The only voice hitherto heard has been
that of the ministry, corrupt monarchy,
composed Of the Ming family and their
dependents, VINO are completely under
the control of China.
The Queen, who is a blood relative of
the Mings, is undoubtedly under the in
fiuence of China and as she is understood
to be greatly superior 20 her
consort in intellect and force of
character, her power to impress her ideas
upon him has been easily credited. That
the Mings acted really in the Kings
name and with his sanction was not seri-
ously questioned up to the time when
the Chinese diplomatic agent in Seoul
deserted his post and left the court
from surveillance. Then the Japanese
envoy received message from the Kings
father suggesting that il an interview
could be arranged IN the palace his
son could be induced to recog-
nize the justice and friendliness
OF Japan's intentions without much
difficulty. The Kings father, officially
known as Tai Won Kun, was at one
period the regent of the country, but
through the intrigues of the Mings he
was deposed some ten years ago, and con-
demned 10 long captivity. After his
Liberation he was forbidden to approach
the court.
The japanese Envoy at once insisted
upon meeting the monarch personally,
and under conditions that would enable
him to speak his mind, without restraint.
Being denied this privilege by royal sd
visers, he determined to present himself
with an armed escort and sent for de-
tachment from the japanese forces out
side the city. AS this small guard
passed by the place on the way to the en-
voy's residence, it was fired upon by
Corean soldiers in the service of the
Mings. These shots settled the fate OF
the ministry. The native troops were
dispersed with scarcely strug-
gle and an hour later tue
representative of japan was in amicable
conversation with the Sovereign, who did
not hesitate to declare that he had been
under Coercion ever since the
beginning of the imbroglio with
China and that he was far from feeling
the hostility toward Japan, which his.
government had publicly attributed to
him. In token OF his sincerity, he had
already rid himself of his late council and
summoned Tai Won Kun 30 assist him in
forming new administration
Before the day was ovsr a cabinet made
of radical opponents OF the Ming faction,
had been installed with the Tai Won Kun
as Prime Minister and committee OF IL
to re-organiZe the administrative system
and reform the national laws, upon n basis
recommended by Japan. Such energy had
never before been witnessed since the
foundation of the Corean monarchy.
The extraordinary p-omptuess OF the
King in asserting to any proposition put
forward by the Japsnse envoy might have
laid him open to the suspicion OF seeking
merely to concilitste the newcomers and
to aver their animosity by unconditional
submission, but for the discovery OF
al action on his part entirely inconsistent
with any secret sentiment OF i'll viii, As
soon as the outgoing cabinet had left the
,,aiacc and xpifbout u-aft,ry a., conguit
his new council, he called together the
commanders OF the few tro ps remaining
at his disposal and ordered them instantly
to join the japanese army on the way to-
attack the Chinese at Asan.