The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-31
AN ORIENTAL PRIZE.
The Little Kingdom OF COrea, for
Which War May BE Winged.


Which War May BE Waged.
CHICAGO, Dec. 29.-The Tribune says:
Corea promises soon to be center of in
terest for large portion of the civilized
world. Although not now constituting a
part of the great Chinese empire. which
the European powers are preparing to APP
propriate to themselves, this fact will
scarcely save it from the fate which now
seems to be hanging over that empire.
Destiny has placed it in the path of the
great Russian glacier that is grinding its
way over eastern Asia. and unless pro-
tected by some powerful barrier, like COM
bination between Great Britain and Japan,
it must soon be obliterated off the face of
the map as an independent power
This little kingdom, though long closed
to the rest of the world like China and
Japan up to the beginning of the last gen.
GRAFTON, has an interesting history. At the
present time it is less known than either of
it's more powerful neighbors, having been
opened up to the world only in recent years.
1t is first heard of in Chinese history about
1122 B. c., and from that time appears to
have been subject to China, although ruled
over by a monarch whose power was abso-
Lutte within his dominion. The Mongolian
rulers, who had control from the eleventh
century of the present era, gave way by
revolution in 1892 to the present dynasty.
Its allegiance to China continued until the
close of the war of that power with Japan
In 1895, when 1t secured sort of nominal
Independence under japanese influence.
But for the opposition of Russia it is prob
able efforts would have been made to Sc
cure its consolidation with the Japanese en-
pire Since that date it has been under a
sort of joint protectorate of Russia and
Japan in which the former had control of
the army police, and foreign affairs, while
Japan has directed the departments of edu-
cation, agriculture, and finance With the
most important branches of the government
Russia from recently usurping control of
the finances also, in doing this displacing
all Englishman named McLeavy Brown,
who had charge of the department of finance
ana customs under contract which still
had some years to run 1t is this step which
is referred to as reason for the reported
appearance of an English fleet at Chemulpo,
the port nearest to Seoul the Corean capi-
tai
With an area of about 50. 900 square miles
about equal to the State of Kansas
Corea has a population estimated at eight
to ten millions, being somewhat in excess
of the population of Illinois and Ohio COM
bined. Possessing q mountainous surface
it is reported to be rich in minerals, in
Guiding gold, silver, iron, copper, and coal,
though these have been but little developed.
Indeed, gold mining is said to have been
prohibited by the government It's natural
desirable acquisition for Russia, especially
in view of the plans of that government
for obtaining an outlet on the Pacifc coast
for its commerce over the transsiberian rail-
this region which is evidently impending
between Russia and Japan with Great
Britain a possible participant on the side.
OF the latter, promises to furnish material
for one of the most interesting chapters in
the history of the last decade of the nine
teenth century.