The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-08
AFFAIRS IN COR,EA.
interesting Talk with the New Sec
rotary Of the Japanese Legation.

rctary of the Japanese Legation
WASHINGTON, March IA new first
secretary to the Japanese legation at Wash
ington, Mr.. Il. Matsui. has just arrived here
having been transferred from his post at
Seoul, the capital of Corea, where he has
recently passed through the exciting events
by which Corea precipitated the war be-
tween Japan and China. The trip from
Seoul to Washington with short stop
at Yokohama has taken about two months.
he Is one of the keen young men speaking
English f1uently who are distinguishing
Japan for her diplomacy as well as her
military powers He talks interestingly of
Corean affairs, the Corean King and Queen.
the Tonghak rebellion and other events
mat nave come vaguely to the outer world
me Coreans We're suspicious and fearful
at the outset said Mr. Matsui ..lest
Japan had come to conquer and absorb
them, but they have gradually come "a
realize that the enlightened reforms sur
gested by Count Inouyi, the Japanese envov
there are for the advancement and modern
i2ing OF Corea. He is we'll equipped for this
work as ne signed the first treaty of peace
ana amity made with Corea nearly twenty
years ago and was again concerned with
the country in 1884 But the work of raforr,
10 Very slow and it will be years before the
country will emerge from the darkness she
partook from China. The latter country has
long claimed Corea as a dependency and
Chinese conservatism has been impressed
On the S country There are about two thou
other chnsee a Seoni and these with the
In the old ways and have prevented contact
with the outside world
But the reforms urged by japan are be
ginning TO manifest themselves. confinra5
Mr. Matsu The King and Queen, as well
a. as ane caDinef. consult Count Inouyi and
CQlCG1G iftGu
frequently summoned to the palace Wher -
the the King personally questions him for ad-
? most just and fair man, though perhans
lacking IN force Of character. The Queen
ffuence is felt by the Ministry She Is Nv
Tar the first woman in Corea
The ;administration Of affairs is being
household is being maintained as it was
before the war, although the palace is much
The reform has brought about an incraase
of the Cabinet from six, as it was before
the war, 20 ten the same as Japan's Cabi-
OF Finance, Foreign Affairs, War. Justice.
Public Works, Education, etc All of rhe
ministers are native Coreans. They have
little or no aptitude for the social organize
ton on modern lines but they consuit
Count Inouyi and are ready to accept sug-
gestions, although their natural slowness
makes the process of advancement tedious.
The finances of the country are very
bad, There IL lack Of money for public
and so cumbersome that the strongest man
could not carry more than $50 There is no
navy. The army is meager, with several
Americans serving as instructors The SOL
diers have modern rifles and some Ixrupp
guns, but they have been allowed to rust
and rot. and the soldiers cannot handle
them effectively.
1--WE were in communication with the
seat of war; Seoul is on the line OF
the through telegraph line from Port Ar
thur. There was little excitement among
the Coreans, and they accepted the result
of the struggle with their usual stold-
ity The Corean army and about 200
Japanese troops were sent against the
Tonghaks, and the rebellion was about sup
pressed when I left. The Tonghaks are
made up of two elements in the south of
made UP of robbers and brigands in all
about 10000. The leaders brought the rich
men to the towns and forced them on
pain of death, to give uD their money
The brigands Joined in the general de-
struction and pillage. Many depredations
cruelties and murders occurred japanese
and Corean soldiers subdued the outbreak
The Tonghaks fought with crude weapons,
but hundreds of them would fly before a
squad of twenty trained japanese infantry
men,
Mr. Matsui stopped at Yokohama on his
way here long enough to observe the in
tense patriotism of his countrymen The
celebration of Japan'S victories over China
were of daily occurrence. The streets were
lined with flags hung from the roofs on
either side and joined in the middle of the
Japanese lanterns made the city resplend-
ent. The Japanese press was doing its part
in getting out frequent extras recording
each new victory OF japanese arms.