The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-12
OminouS RumorS Discussed
With Peculiar Morbid
Avidity.
KOREA STILL IN CHAOS
Million of Dollars Worth OF Prom.
erty Destroyed in the Chinese
Riots.

The people nourish in suspense their dis.
content with the methods by which peace
has been secured and, as a whole, refuse
to participate in any display of gratiica-
ton at the close of the war.
In many quarters doubts are expressed
as to the durability of the settlement with
Russia, Germany and France. The news
papers are not permitted to speak freely,
but the majority of those who escaped sus-
pension hint at the probability that fresh
entangiements are presently to be dis
closed. 1t does not appear that their sus-
plclons have any material foundation, yet
they are certainly shared by the commu-
nifty in general.
Government securities continue de-
pressed, and the war bonds are selling at
lower figures than before peace was de-
clared.
Omlnous rumors, such as that Russia is
preparing to seize Port Lazaroff and that
large bodies of fresh sailors and marines
nave landed IN Formosa, are reported with
morbid avidity, as if the populace was
eager to discover some warrant for the pre-
Va1llng dlsquietude. But the best informa-
ton that can be gathered from official
sources is distinctly reassuring up to the
present time. The Foreign Office atfirms
no ground for apprehension to exist with
regard to any of the three recently hostile
European powers, and the diplomatic
representatives of those powers take pains
to contradict all reports to the effect that
further trouble is anticipated.
If external complications are impending
It is at least certain that Japan is doing
nothing to guard against them. The do
mestlc political outlook is less serene, and
the Government is manifesting a great
deal of curiosity respecting the condition
OF public opinion. Provincial Governors
throughout the empire have been ordered
to inquire minutely into this subject and
report to Kioto and Toxic.
Public feeling is much divided and is
plainly avowed in speech, though no
printed declarations of it appear, and is as
unfriendly to the administration as if the
empires interests had been sacrificed in
every particular. The acquisition of For
tlosa is taken as a matter of course, while
the abandonment of Manchuria is be-
walled as grievously. as if the dearest
hopes of the nation had been centered
wholly upon that single strip of territory.
~ After several postponements Admiral
=kabayama, the japanese Governor-Gen-
eral of Formosa, sailed for that island May
"a. His delay was caused by the repeated
failures OF the Chinese Government to pro-
vide for the formalities of the transfer A
suitable commissioner was difficult to
find. No one yearned for the post, and the
Picking authorities made the most of this
obstacle. Finally the duty was assigned
to the son of Ii Hung Chang, and his APP
pointment having been announced the
rialH or1a
all the civil and military Chinese officials
to vacate the premises and return to the
mainland.
1t is not known whether arrangements
have been made for the transportation of
the troops, and if this question is not salts
factorily settled the consequences may be
disagreeable. The soldiers are of the worst
class, and are already rioting through the
districts in which they are stationed.
Foreigners at the ports are protected by
detachments of marines from European
ships, but until the armed rabble of 1000 or
more is disposed of, the coast regions will
be insecure.
The Government of Korea has fallen into
such a slough of decentralization that no
pretense of reform is now maintained.
The Ministers give no heed to public bust
ness, but scheme only to enrich them
selves, some by negotiating with Russia
for the sale of port on the Eastern coast,
others by offering counter proposals to
European powers opposed to Russia's ag-
grandizement, and still others by comfy
ing at the return of the Ming exiles, who
were driven out of the country for their
crimes when Chinas influence was over
thrown. Two of the Mings are said to be
en- route in disguise to the neighborhood
of Seoul, where they await the Queens
signal to demand recognition from the
feeble King.
Count Inouye has not yet found way
to bring order out of the Korean chaos and
it is reported that, sick and weary of the
struggle, he is about to leave the country.
Unless he can be dissuaded from this step,
the Koreans will assume that Japan has |
decided to abandon her task of regenerat-
ing the wretched kingdom, and then
nothing can prevent the Queen from reviv-
ing the corrupt system of former years.
She will be supreme, for the Tai Won Kun,
who formerly held her in check, has appar-
emily gone into decrepitude since his be-
loved grandson was banished for planning
murder and treason.
The old mans latest exploit was a cum
ningly arranged flight from his palace with
view of joining the expatriated criminal,
but 100 policemen were put on his trail
and he was driven back, reports say, at
the points of swords.
The Japanese legation, until recently
courted by all aspirants to political ad-
vancement, is now quite disregarded,
owing to the impression that Japans po-
sition in Korea will hereafter depend upon
Russian dictation, but the japanese Gov
eminent denies that any departure from
the policy announced last year is contem-
plated.
Tadasu Hayashi. japanese Westminster
OF Foreign Affairs, who won an envlable |
reputation by his adroit management of |
the department during the long absence of |
Viscount Mutsu at Hiroshima and Balkan. |
has been appointed Envoy to China with |
special instructions for the settlement of |
all outstanding questions between the two |
Governments.
Viscount Gnomoto, the present Japanese |
Minister of Agriculture and Commerce