Evening journal., 1895-10-21
The Views Of Prince PAX.


The Views of Prince PAX.
WASHINGTON, Oct 21.-Prince Yong
Hio PAX, formerly minister Of the interi-
or OF Korea who was compelled to leave
the country on account Of the opposition
Of tho queen TO reforms he attempted to
institute, is now in this city, and said re-
garding the administration Of the late
queen:
"The queen has been the practical ruler
Of Korea, the king being only figure
head. She got money unfairly and oppress-
ively from the people. She sold every of
fee In tho government, from cabinet Of
fees to the lowest magistracy, to the high
est bidder She also sold titles The peo-
pie call them thunder titles. She sent
her emissarios to private people with
money and offered these titles and Offices
for SALE To refuse to take them was re-
garded as an pot of discourtosy to royalty,
and the offending person was put in pris-
on and his money taken away.
She had a force Of private detectives
scattered through the country, and if they
heard any word of reproach against the
queen for her operations the people utter
ing them were put in prison and killed
there without their friends knowing It.
"She was surrounded by fortune tellers
and made continual sacrifices to gods of
all kinds. She got woman to pose as a
prophecies, and the queen made the king,
Hi Rhee, believe that he must obey every
thing that this woman said But it was
the queen who told this woman what to
prophosy. This woman had title given
her by the queen, who was the real power
behind tho throne. Last year / attempted
to arrest the prophecies, but she got away
"Queen Min was absolutely opposed to
progress and reform. When 1 was made
commissioner of public works ton years
ago and began to construct a sewer and
water SYSTEM and to lay out streets and
TO build houses I'M straight lines it was
the queen who objected. The postoilice
was started ton years ago, and one of my
friends was made postmaster general. He
got the postal system in running order,
and it worked fairly well for three months.
The queen then concluded that as It was
started by the progressive party it was a
bad thing and abolished it.
Last year, when I was recalled and
made minister OF the interior, l had tho
controlling influence in the government.
The first thing | did was TO induce the
king, queen and all the higher officials Of
the government to 90 TO tho Temple Of
Heaven at Seoul, whore they took solemn
oath that each officer OF the government,
from the king down. should faithfully do
his own duty and not interfere with the
others; that tho king would abide by the
decision Of the cabinet, and that the queen
should have nothing to say in government
affairs.
Tho Queens Intrigue.
"With this understanding the govern
mont went on well for few months, the
queen did not say much, and the officers
stuck TO their pledges also, but the queen
couldn't stand this inactivity and COM
menced her intrigues again
tI divided tho country into 23 prov
inces, with governor at the head of each.
IL was my intention to drill soldiers in
modern tactics and station thoIn hore and
there through the country for the better
preservation Of law and order.
The queen had 1, 600 old fashioned
soldiers in her palace, whom she used i'm
arresting those who would not obey her.
1 decided to replace these with modern
drilled soldiers. The cabinet agreed that
it would be a good thing but the queen
did not relish the idea of having modern
institutions SO near her. She charged mo
with plotting against her Ifs and com
planned TO the king, who not knowing
bettor, ordered my arrest. / was informed
Of the proposed arrest and hastily left the
country
Il know that the present state Of things
in Korea would not last long. l expected
something would happen this fall, but
am surprised it came so soon.
1.-The queen suspected that the new
troops were implicated in the alleged plot
of mine TO kill her, and she concluded to
dishand them. The soldiers objected TO
this and in casting about for a leader
they selected Tai Won Kun, knowing that
he was an enemy of the queen They went
20 him and asked him TO lead them in re-
volt Thon they went TO the palace and
attacked it at night, as is reported.
"It Is rather ungracious for mo TO say
that / am glad that the queen is dead,
but when ] think of the condition Of the
country consider her death as a blessing
TO the people. Yet l am sorry for the dead
woman.