The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-14

war. Although the Japanese had. no reason
to favor the concessions made 10 China and
proceedings. they were visited with the spe-
cial wrath Of the Cofean mob. and only es-
capped wholesale slaughter by flight
Within a month the japanese envoy re-
entered Seoul with a military escort. and
war with Japan was only averted by the
payment by Corea OF. a heavy indemnity.
the arrival of a Chinese force OF 1900 or
1000 men, which the Chinese envoy lei
Of the japanese emba ssador. He was taken
a prisoner TO Tien-Tsin. and the King was
restored to his full authority. The influence
or Tai-won-kun. however. was eventually
restored. and. after the Kings remarriage.
the struggle begun which. after continuing
for years. has now. as reported. resulted in
royal victim of Tai-won-Kun.
The new Queen of Corea proved 10 he an
unusually clever woman. and although. IN
was ever permitted TO look upon her face
save her brothers,. sons and husband. she
had, previous to the outbreak of the war
between China and Japan. great influence
over the destinies of her country. She Oft
en- attended conferences between the king .
and his ministers. although. OF course. she
did not appear in the room in which the
conference was held. She had several holes
s se1 rafDugn her me ana snrn ms papef frnm %, psrn au6,n
ence chamber. and through these apertrres
made her on the official business
In hand.
So great, indeed, was the influence she
exercised over public affairs that the anti
foreign party determined TO remove n.r. az
they had removed her predecessor, and this
was the object Of the tragic palace revolu-
ton of 1884. To celebrate the opening OF the
new postoffice in the capital a grand dinner
was gwen by the Postmaster-general.
Hong Yong six. at which several of the
leading statesmen were present and nest
of the foreign diplomates. About the close
ed, and Min Yong TX, general i'm command
Of the right battalion of the palace guard.
There he was pounced upon by the c.n-
spirators and almost killed outright
The Postmaster-general and two Of lbs
guests, Kim Ok Kim and PAX Yong lilo.
who. as IL turned out. had planned the
assassination OF the general. FASTENED to
the palace and persuaded the King to re-
move to a smaller building, where ne would
be. they deftly said, in greater safety.
Meanwhile, the three generals. who. with
summoned to the palace and there muir
dered in cold blood. With them also died
Min Thai Ho. a brother of the Queen by
adoption. The King. fortunately. began e
mistrust his apparent protectors. and de-
parted, rather unceremoliously for a per-
son OF majestic rank, by a back door. and
nate, but at the expense of the life Of one
of the fairest daughters OF corea.
One OF the Corean nOblemen attached to
the palace hada daughter whose figure was
almost the counterpart of that Of her Majes-
ty., When the conspiracy was at its height
apartments as rapidly as possible this noble
man and his daughter cut off their APP
70 exchange garments With the noeieman's
daughter. and In this guise leave the pal
ace The brave young woman who had put
on the robes OF the Queen sat in the chair
OF state and calmly awaited the approach
of the consplrators. They came soon. and
a moment later she was l.ing dead at the
foot Of the throne, with a dagger In her
heart There are few more sublime in
this in recorded history. and IL is a COM
mentary which needs no enlargement on
the kind of women bred in Corea.
The revolution was a failure, but not
until over three hundred Of the best men
and women in the country had lost their
lives. The King and Queen returned TO
the palace. and one Of the first persons to
be rewarded with a high Office was the
nobleman whose daughter had died TO save
the life of her Queen. He became one or
most the only official of importance left
TO the country after the revolution was
| Kim Hong Jip. the Minister of Foreign
Affairs The others had been killed.
trigues and negotiations which preceded
the Japanese invasion of Corea Hast year
and the var Wit China which ensued.
| maintained her reputation for ability ana
strength of character Her enemies have
accused her of a disposition for unscrupu-
lous intrigue. but Count Inouye. the Jap
correspondence in the London Times. de-
fenda her reputation and denies the accusa-
tons brought to bear against her by her
spondent 1.-The cieverest and most astuts
person in Seoul. II any defect could be
discerned in her character ~ was the per-
petua1 intrigues and consptrscies OF whicn
she and her family used TO be the objects
had driven her 70 rely upon counterplots
and to expend upon propiiatinE superna1-
ural agencies funds not properly available
TO the noble family of Min. and was a little
over forty-hye years OF age