The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20

cIuding one woman have been foully muir
dered by Korean rioters since the coup
d'etat of February IL. The Toxic Govern
ment is showing resolute patience in the
presence OF these outrages. 1t appreciates
the powerlessness of the Korean executive
to deal with the anarchy now prevailing in
demands that mnst tend only to precipi-
tate more acute crisis.
1t is unfortunate for Russia that the dis
grace full disorders occurring in the penin-
sula should mark an epoch when the ad-
ministration of Korean affairs is conducted
from within the walls of the Russian lega-
tion. NM. de Speyer and Waeber, the
repres entatives OF the great northern
power in Korea, who of course
acted without the authority of the Cabi-
net in st. Petersburg, cannot have ap-
preciated the extreme difficulties that
beset Japan's unobstrusive efforts to main.
tain order and inaugurate progress or they
would not have lightly lent the authority
OF their country's flag to a cabal bent upon
upsetting all that had been accomplished
and not furnished with resources or
strength to build an ything stable on the
RUNS. 1t mus. at least be said to Japans
credit that she never incurred the danger
of provoking disorders without making
provision of means to quell them.
But Russia's agents appear to have
thought that hundred marines and one
fieldpiece to guard the inclosure of for
eign legation where the King and his Cabi-
net were hiding from nation that they
dare not attempt to govern openly would
10 ho =
amounting to something very like
anarchy. That is not Russia's wonted way
of doing things; she is nothing if not
thorough. But in truth she labors
under disadvantages cognate with those
that impeded Japan's efforts to civilize
the peninsula. Even if she were
prepared to attempt anything Immediately
against the independence of Korea-pre-
pared, in other words, 10 assume the con-
troll of administrative affairs there. she is
barred by her pledge given when England
evacuated Port Hamilton in 1885, and still
more by her association with Germany
and France, who Joined her in forcing
Japan out of Liaotung on the explicit
ground of preserving Korean independ-
ence. Her interference in Korea must
partake, therefore, of the inn mpotence for
conclusive results that has crippled Japan
also.
Japan, however, has one bright page in
her record. Throughout the whole time
of Count Inouye's residencein Seoul Korea
remained comparatively tranquil. There
were no political emeutes in the capital,
and the remaining disturbances of the
Tonghaks in the provinces were steadily
and successfully quelled.
Count Inouye showed that Japan was
competent to solve the Korean problem
were she suffered to pursue the under
taking without jealous interruption from
abroad. But Count Inouye's conception
of the real inwardness of the situation,
his conviction that only by a general
agreement on the part of the Western
powers could complete remedy be ap-
piled, was not at that time shared by the
Toxic Cabinet. He returned to Japan,
only to hear Of disorder succeeding disor-
der in his absence, and to see his foresight
confirmed by events that now necessitate
the course he then advocated.
The political crisis, nearly precipitated
in Japan on receipt of intelligence about
the recent coup d'etat in Korea has been
averted. The balance of power in the Diet
is held by party numbering thirty mem
bers and calling themselves the National
Unionists.