New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-10
THE STATE or CORE1.

The war in Eastern ASH HIS 50 ohS o''h "
simple contest between Japan and China that the
third party to it, and original cause of 1t, has
been wcllnigh forgotten. II was on Cor"aS ac-
count that the island Empire accepted the gage
Of battle flung down with contelnptlouS AFRO
gaucc by its Brobdingnagian ncighDor; To save
Corca from being overwhelmed by Chinese bar
barism and brutality. and 10 give It's feeble
sparks of progress chance 10 glow into Il radiant
flame The issues of the war have now become
far greater than that. Nevertheless that original
issue is still vital In becoming victor in the con-
test japan has all the more wcightily fastened
upon herself responsibility for Core1's future
welfare And while the world is Specializing
upon The terms of peace Japan will impose upon
China It may also observe with interest what
japan is doing and will do for the regeneration
Of Corca.
Much has been earnestly attempted. but little
rs vet has been accomplished The Chinese nave
been driven out: that was easy enough ana
Japaucsn influence has been made supreme But
that is only the beginning of the task. To give
the country A stable government and 10 restore
Industrial prosperity must be the next things NJ
which the japanese administrators are now work
ing The trouble is that the Corcan officials are
ignorant corrupt AM largely dsloyal. they or
most Of thcul-know nothing better than III" OLD
Chinese mc,hclS of plundcring the people ana
stealing the proceeds. In the face of their vicious
Inertia the wcll-mcaninG but weak kihG, ana
even the energetic and sta,cSmailike Japanese
Minister. are wcllnigh helpless. True, some I'M
poriant reforms have been dccrccd. Slavery has
been abolished all persons are declared "luai De-
fore the law freedom of petition 10 III" COUNCIL
II State is granted. the absurd Chinese literary
examination system is swept away. and Il gen
cral REORGANIZATION of finances has been ordered
But MI these have got scarcely beyond mere
nominal existence.
The chief trouble IL tina: 10 execute such re-
forms VIII cost much money. aud 'orca has none.
The treasury l. empty. and the people are i'm
povcrish.l Last year The best part Of the coun-
Try In harvest time WAS ravaG"d 10y war In"
actual engagements between the rival armies did
litil,. harm Rut The Chinese horics. until driven
beyond The Yloo. not merely lived on the coun-
try without giving compensation, hut Wanipnly
plllag,-l and burned all that they could not use.
Whole provinces were thus devastated. The p"o-
plc have scarcely enough left 10 keep them alive
until next harvest time. To get any considerable
revenue from them 10y taxation is impossible.
Moreover IN the South In III" provinces saved
from chinese rupinc. the T"nghak rebels. under
Chinese Indictment have been and Sull are ram
pant only the presence If Japanese troops pre-
vents them from taking Seoul and oycrihroWing
the Government. And NJ present Japan can
spare troops enough merely 10 restrain them from
such extremes not To- suppress them altogether
W substantial Improvement, therefore. Is Ia
be- expected until pctcc is actually made between
Japan and China When that is done Japan Will
lee able To- send a large army to Corca AMI Ia
crush entirely the Tonghak rebellion. com
plcc military occupation Of the country, or of the
dlsaffcctcd provinces. for few months VIII re-
store order and firmly establish the Kings au-
ihurity Then, Also Il Japanese or other foreign
loan may be made on advantageous terms. 10
furnish means for executing reforms and carry
ing on tine functions Of government, until the
people shall have rcgIincd ability 10 supply the
needed revenue In this way We may hope In the
next few years To Corca opened To friendly
intercourse with all nations, and started pro-
pItIously on the road Of progress and cnlghtcn-
mcnt II is perfectly evident that Japan can do
this work In and for COrca far better than any
other Power: If, indeed. she he not the only Power
that can do II at all And there is crcry reason
10 believe she will continue 10 address herself
10 it with all carncstncss until it Is fully accom-
pIiSh,I