The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-26


engaged G.. ID. Brill. an American, TO
start model farm and a museum OF
agricultural implements Highly com
mcndahle as is this scheme. the quiet,
ceaseless opposition OF the Niceroy'5
subordinates render Its failure certain
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OF all the prominent Chinese who might
assist in retarding the approaching par
tition, there remain only Tastoi Sheng
and Governor Hu. Sheng IS VIGOROUSLY
the most corrupt Of the Chinese officials.
lie is a pupil and protege Of Ii Hung
Chang and gained the title or 1aOtOI
lGoyernOr). when he served in that ca
pacity over Lias-tung and Taku lie IS
responsible for the lack OF ammunition
and material to defend Port Arthur ana
the Chinese feet. During the Chinese
reverses by land and sea during the war
with Japan he disappeared dlscreetly
but reappeared as soon az that disastrous
affair had blown oyer: Mnen me me, COY Coy
ed 20 the construction Of railroads, Sheng
hurried TO Picking and by means OF I'D
eral presents. more properly called DIlDe5'
secured the position OF Ia-Jen or dlIec-
tor-in-chief IL goes without saying that
Sheng. like almost every Chinese ofncial,
holds office only for what there IS in II,
and IS consequently fair type or Chi-
nese corruption Governor Hu, who was
recently appointed Director-General or
the railways north Of the yellow river IS
fairly honest But what viii this avail
among the numerous officials OF the stamp
OF Sheng?
A pertinent question IS: What IS the
reason Of this fcverish activity at TINS
time? Judging from what has occurred
IL IS my opinion that Russia IS the IN
stigatOr OF the entire movement ana tndt
she has decided TO humiliate Japan De-
fore that ambitious nation IS IN posses
Siop Of her fleet Germany ana tIihc,
possibly England also, will obtain small
slice OF China in rturn for their coop
GRAFTON against power that dared raise
the cry of ASIA for the Asiatici' LOOK
at the events as they happened recently.
No sooner is the Greco-Turkey question
settled and peace on her western iron
bier assured, than Russia begins putting
on the screws in Korea, and takes meas
ures that are bound 20 eXasperate the
japanese. She deliberately violates the
treaty with Japan, concluded with J "a
magata during the coronation, /, cere reno
eT Of the two powers should interfere
I'm the internal affairs of Korea. In the
new agreement with Russia, II Is stated
and well-informed Tokyo daily. that
Korea not only agrees to employ MT
Alexieff, but transfers the control Of the
finances 10 him and his successors, 10
be appointed without consultation OF the
Korean government. thus Transferring
virtually the finance department 10 Rus
sian control. Logic" says the Nippon
emphatically, forces the conclusion
Russia" The agreement further places
Alexeff above the native minister OF
finance, by specifying that all the de-
partmental financing and UNDERTAKINGS
needing funds shall be carried out by MS
advice and instruction. 1t gives him also
the power Of recommending n proper per-
son TO be the chief of the custom de-
partment so that that position viii also
be under his control. II also gives him
the power TO appoint his successor but
stipulates that in such appointment he
must secure the joint approval of the
government of Russia and Korea. There
Is also a clause that none but Russians
and Koreans shall be employed with the
same conditions as Mr.. AlieXef.
GALL AND WORMWOOD.
Considering that Japan has looked upon
Korea as territory legally her own. and
that. while the King was i'm their power
they lOrded It over the Wretched PENN
suar with almost autocratic power. it is
gall and norwood 10 them 20 see how
they have beeh checkmated by Russia.
The diplomats Of the great northern power
have. after all, only Initiated the example
set by the japanese: for every measure
taken they can point 10 a precedent es-
tablshed by Otori and Miura. The news
papers are more than indignant. There
is very little bombast or braggadocio,
and the digniied tone assumed by them
forebodes i'll for the peace Of the far
east.
There is one point which. so far as I
know, none OF the European or American
papers have noticed. and which nevertho-
less deserves most particular mention. it
is this: that the recent changes in the
Cabinet have resulted in placing the Safe
una clan in power Immediately after the
revolution OF 1867 the three great southern
clans responsible for the success in plac-
ing the Empress MutsukitO on the throne,
viz: satsuma. Choskiu, and Tosa. as
sumo the new government. This trium-
vratc. IL / may call II So IS known by
the japanese as The Sat-cho-tO. from the
first syllabes OF each clan. Satsuma with
drew in high dudgeon when Okubo and
Iwakura opposed war with Korea in
1873 and 1874
Saigo Takamorl, the beau ideal Of the
japanese Sarurai. silked I'm kegoshima
and i'm 1877 raised the standard of rebellion
which cost Japan go 900 lives and millions
Of money. Tosa soon dropped out and
thAgovernment was administered by Sat-
suma and Choskiu or Sat-cho. Ito. Yama-
gaia, and several other prominent states
men are of the Choskiu clan. But now
Chosliu has withdrawn or has been drop
ped and the administration is wholly in
the hands Of warlike Satsuma This
would in itself be a disturbing element.
but IN view Of the real cause Of COM
plant which Japan nurses against Rus
sla. the fact is alarming.
This much may he taken for
granted. The surprise caused by the rev
citation Of Japan's strength in the war
with China. was too disagreoable 20 be
allowed a repetition So long as Japan
was satisfied 70 stand by Japan for the
japanese" European powers with colo
MES in Asia could afford 10 look on. But
when Japan began to raise the cry Of
Asia for the AsiaticsW Russia was
not at all disposed TO permit Japan's pro-
viding new and startling surprises. In
this connection the words Of the German
officer i'm the interview with the Chinese
NiccrOy are OF moment: Contingencies
might arise In FOrmosa.' What con-
tingencies? France has long cast cOvetous
glances toward that beautiful and pro-
ductve island. and II was currently re-
ported that the government of the re-
public would object 10 Jspan's taking pos
session. II does look now. however. as If
tho japanese would De permitted TO re
tain Il only so long until the autschtones
were either subdued or eXtrminatad. and
that then some reason would be found
to rob Japan Of her recently acquired ter
ritory. ] may state here also that there
IS a growing belief among foreigners that
something will occur TO postpone in
definitely the going into effect OF the
new treaties whereby Japan is granted
judicial autonomy German and French
men-of-war are hurrying 10 Chinese
waters. When they have arrived look out
for humiliatng insults for japan. such
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