The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-14

| ITO CORRESPONDENTS. The Query Column
will answer all questions that il is possible 10
obtain an answer 10 as quietly as the same can
be done after receipt OF l0tIer OF inquiry. Ii an
| answer is not published on he Sunday follow
ing the sending OF litter IL is because II has
been impossible TO obtain the answer in time.
Oftentimes the party 10 charge OF this column
is obliged 10 write 10 distant points for tile in
formation asked. Letters that do not bear the
name and address of The writer will not be an
swered. The name is not desired for publica-
ton, but 10 enable the Query Editor TO CORE
| Spond with the writer i'll case question, as
| often occurs. IS not clearly statedl
kOREA-F. n. c. Chico. Butte County. CAL;
| r. g. ID. and j. A. City. Korea, sometimes
| written Corea aud at times called the Hermit
| Kingdom, is pennsular Kingdom on the east
coast of Asia, bounded on the east by the
| Japan Sea, south by the Straits of Korea,
which divide il from the Japanese island OF
| Kiou- Siou, west by the Yellow Sea, which
separates it from China, and on the north by
Manchuria. Its extreme length is $50 miles,
and lis width varies from 90 10 200 miles, Its
area is 10000 square miles. and its population
| is varlousy estimated at from 100000 10
| 100000. che present ruler is Ii Houi
| Toui-Tsiy, King of Korea, the twenty-eighth
King OF The dynasty OF Han. He was born on
the 21st OF July, 1851. and was the successor
of khoul khong in January, 1864. The heir
| is Ii Tchock, born February 4, 1873. The
| Kingdom has during the present dynasty and
| during the Ming and the Yuan dynasty which
| preceded il, say for about six cen uries paid
! tribute 10 China. Japan has at times disputed
the suZerainty with China, and the Hermit
Kingdom paid tribute 10 both China and Japan.
Ever since the Japanese were expelled by the
| Chinese 800 years ago the Koreans have
occasionally sent tribute TO the japanese, but
the custom was at last entirely discontinued,
and Korea has been for long time, say at
least 200 years. tributary to China only. In
1875 Korea, by the advice OF China, made
treaty with Japan for mutual trade. In 1882
also by advice OF China. Korea entered into
treaty relations with the United States and the
European powers. This is anomalous, for If
Korea Is really tributary she has power to
make treaties IN independent country.
! korea's explanation was made In a circular
note sent 10 he powers in 1892, that, although
| tributary 10 China. she is allowed freedom and
Independence In the management of both
domestic and foreign affairs.
| In 1882 China sent forces TO Korea to sup
press the riots which took place after the ratii.
cation OF the treaties. and arrested Tai-Weu-
| Kun. The father OF the King who was the ring.
leader of the obsLructioDiSts, and took MIN
10 Pao- Hing Fl, where lie was sept a prisoner
| until September, 1885, when he was returned
| to Korea by imperial edct
| China's assumption of authority TO settle the
! Korean trouble Of 1882 reused much jealousy
| among The JaUanese, ana after that time two
parties came into being in Korea, pro- Chinese
and prO-Japanese party. The settlement of the
| 1882 riots left the ~ OF Chinese party In power.
| In December 1884, the i'll feeling between the
/ two factions broke out.
In 1885 China was involved in difficulties
with france and so was not dIspOsed TO have
| any unnecessary trouble with Japan. Korea
! and japan first had settlement by which
| Korea agreed 10 pay Japan an indemnity.
| Later China formed treaty with Japan. called
| The LII Ito" convention, 10y which both China
and Japan bound themselves not 10 send troops
TO Korea wllhou! first notifying the other.
AT the time the reason ayowed for this ex-
hQf xuaa
| Chinese and Japhnese troops, such as that OF
! December. 1884. would BE- avoided. There eau
be no doubt, however, that the meaning OF
Japan was 10 get China's indirect admission
| that he rights OF the TWO countries in Korea
were equal. Since 1885 The Chinese Minister
! or resident al Seoul has been a man named
| in power after The 1884 riots the King and Gov.
ernment OF Korea have since that time been
| completely under the influence of Lii Hung
| Chang. who has used Yuen as his agent.
| Ii Hung Changes attitude has become con-
inually more dlctatorlal and. OF course. this
has been watching for an opportunity 10 In
! lerfere.
In May of this year there was rebellion
| against the Korean King, who applied 10 China
| for assistance. In June Ii Hung Chang sent
over about $500 soldiers, but before doing so
10 the treaty OF 1885. In June japan sent over
| some 200 soldiers. The japanese at once
| set 10 terrifying the road between Chemulpo
| and Seoul. Ii Hung Chang asked for an ex-
PLANTATION, and he was Informed mat the steps
| were taken TO protect the Japanese residents
| In The Kingdom. All efforts on The part OF China
| 10 induce Japan TO withdraw the troops pi owed
unayailing. Chan sent re-enfOrcements TO va.
shan aud landed some troops Then an effort
was made 10 land others that were sent on the
| transport Kaoshng, but the vessel was inter.
cepted by the Naniwa, Japanese man. war.
| Alter an examination of the ships papers and
ofncers the Japanese ordered the commander
| OF the kaoShing TO weigh anchor and follow
the Japanese man-ofw war. The 1900 Chinese
on board declared that If that step was taken
they would Kill every European on board
the vessel This was followed by an.
other consultation with the japanese, and
the captain OF the Kaoshing said thai
when when he. he LEFT port there had not
good faith. The Japanese made no reply, but
soon gave the signal 10 leave ship, and the
| answer was 1--WE canDOt.p Shortly after that
The Japanese opened fire with shot and TORPEDO
on The kaos5ing and she sank with nearly all
on board. Thu was on the 25th OF July. The
formal declaration OF war by the Japane sc was
not made public until Tho 9th of July. Tie
first overt act OF war after tile declaration was
on the 18th OF July. wien the japanese made
| an attack on the junkshops at KOngsbung.
| Since then there have been reported about
dozen engagements of more or less importance
on land and three at sea. The most important
being the one In the Yalu River. when ihe
Chinese met with serious defeat. The details
OF the various engagements have appeared In
the consecutive issues OF The CALL. Lack OF
this cOlutun. Possibly In the distant future
some historian will be able TO determine how
much battle and how much talk there was In
these various reported engagements.
The Japanese have adopted the modern
IDEAS OF warfare. since the declaration OF war;
while the Chinese have decided TO follow the
barbaric idea OF making no prisoners, but kill.
Ing all the captured, on the ground that IL Is
less trouble TO Kill an enemy than IL Is TO MAIN
tain him under guard.
HE DRAKE CRoss-S., City. The monu-
ment known as the Sir Francis Drake Cross in
Golden Gate Park was unveiled on the 1st Of
January, 1894. In many respects the cross.
which was presented by George w. Childs OF
Philadelphia, Is The most notable piece OF stone
work on the American continent. Standing
upon pedestal of stone eighteen feet square
by seven feet high, the total height of the cross
Is ify-seven feet. 1t is composed OF sixty.
eight pieces OF stone. aggregating 100000