Omaha daily bee., 1895-06-02

1T is not the intention of Japan to ask for
any special favors for herself or her people
in Corea. The citizens of European nations
and those of the United States will have the
same chance to get concessions there as will
the Japanese. The probability is that the
Japanese will not invest much in Corea and
that they will turn their attention more to
Formosa What Japan has done in this
respect is to make such concessions possible.
In the past the Chinese minister, Yuan, took
care to prevent such concessions. l know
that several big contracts were about to be
let at different times to American capitalists
when, from some mysterious cause, they
were broken off at the last moment. / have
been told that the Chinese minister was
this cause" -.-
CoREA'S OPPORTUNITY.
What has Japan done for Corea"
asked.
"She has established her independence and
given her a chance to do everything for
herself" was Minister Kurinos reply. From
now on it can have the right to send min
listers to such foreign countries as it pleases,
and it will take its place throughout the
world as an independent nation. AS to its
future, Japan expects Corea to work that
out for herself. She will be ready to advise
and assist, if called upon, and she has given
a list of reforms to the king which she
thinks should be inaugurated. The king
has promised to do this, but politics are in
such condition and the state Of society is
such that his power is very limited. Already
the mobiles of the country are clogging his
efforts in this direction in many ways The
officials Of Corea are degraded and corrupt
They have been living off the people, and
they dislike to give up their power. The
Augean stables of Corea cannot be cleaned
in day, but Japan has laid out the plan
| and If the Coreans follow it they will event
ually become civilized" --..-.-
JAPAN'S ADVICE To COREA
Give me some of the reforms which Japan
advises the Coreans to make"
They are many" replied Mr.. Kurno
They are being introduced into Corea at the
instgatlon and under the supervision Of
Count Inouye, and If the country and the
people will adopt them they will lead to a
| thorough reorganization of the government
| and to the prosperity Of the people. Count
| lnouye proposed twenty-five measures Of re-
! form. In the first place he advised that the
public administration should be directed by
| one sovereign power the king. This was tC
| avoid the evils which have been so prevalent
| on account Of the different ministers, and the
| queen, claiming that they had an almost
equal right with the king as to certain classes
| of public affairs. Another provision modified
| this power Of the ikng in that it made him
| bound to respect and obey the laws which
were enacted for the government of his coun'
| try Heretofore the king, at the instgatior
| Of his advisers, has changed the laws without
| sometimes disregarded the laws 'altogether
| Other provisions regulated the establishment
| Of criminal laws uniform in their nature
| They put the police authority under one d
rection and fixed laws against bribery ant
| improper taxation. They provided for ar
organization Of the local officials so tha
| their exact authority should be fixed ant
| that they should work under the centra
| government. u....r.-'.
Count Inouye suggested the putting dowI
| Of political ntrigues, of reforming the arm!
| and Of sending students abroad to study for
| eign civilization. One Of his suggestions re
lated to the royal household and provide,
that it should be entirely separated from tn
general administration Of the government
He advised that all public business should b.
| conducted by the ministers and no one in tn
royal household should have the right to in
terfege. All taxes are TO be administered b.
| the Treasury department and no tax shoul
be imposed upon the people under any pre-
text beyond the rate fixed by law"
"This fact" said Minister Kurino, was
very important suggestion, Heretofore tn
king. the queen, the crown prince and all tn
departments ef the government have been 1
the habit Of imposing taxes. They did thi