The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-17

events. that the fact OF no member OF the
Korean LEGATION attending the luheIat u
Pom. kwang Lob was an Intentional sIiSAs
on the part Of Minister e POM Ih4h'
What VII. be done with Minister Galn OF
account OF his diplomatic sin Of omission $
stiiI urobIeuatical II is claimed by some
/ that the minister is in Immediate danger q
/ losing his mission on account CT MS trans
gressien. Others claim that he has such q
powerful influence with the king ana with
/ the people OF his country that ne can 90
/ almost what he chooses and sSiH not De
I held responsible
Il was stated that Ye Penn Chin was such
an influential man in Korea that Il Was
with reluctance the king allowed him. at
his own solicitation, 20 come as minister
here, for the express purpose or Studying
the affairs of the United states IN every
detail so that he could apply his knowi-
| edge to the bstternlent Of Korean matters.
On the other hand, people who should
know the ms and outs OF Korean dlp4o-
matte affairs, says THAI il has been great
mistake from the first 10 displace sEch
man as Pom kwang Lob for e Pom chin.
Lob was OF highly aristocrattc family
in his own country, which has Tor centu-
ries almost been closely connected with
the ruling powers. The motto of the Lob
family translated into English. is: A
Lob is always loyal"
A man who had known Pom kwang Lon
almost ever since he has been in this coun-
try and knows the present minister well,
said 10 the Star reporter:
There was no feeling between the dead
man and the present minister so far as
Pom kwang Lob was concerned. II was
all on the other side.
chin recognized the fact that Lob was
far above him, and that angered him in
tensely. One Of the chief characteristics
OF the minister Is his immense seif-con-
been told by the Koreans that he was one
of the three worst men IL his country.
They say that he was a farrier. and by
toadying and a lot of shrewd work, on his
part, ingratiated himself into the good
favers of the queen. who was killed. He
was accustomed TO amuse her by telling
her funny stories.
THE real manner. however. In which he
gained such powerful influence with the
royal family was by means Of q diplomatic
action, or rather claim on his part. Dur
ing an instruction in Korea the king and
queen were forced to seek shelter in the
Russian legation. Ye Pom Chin took upon
himself all the credit of having accom-
plisned their escape. and still further in
creased his influence with the king.
"One of the other characteristics of the
minister is his extreme avariciousness.
Why. his own papers make fun of him
in reference to this. One of them remark
ed some time ago: 'Ne Pom Chin smoked
a whole cigarette today
The person who wrote that evidently
knew him well. for / have seen him take
a cigarette, cut ii in half and smoke one
of the halves. / have seen HIM take a
match to light the gas jets in chandelier
and burn his fingers in his anxiety TO light
all the jets with the one match, instead
of taking another. The Koreans here
despise him, and are not slow in con-
eealing their contempt for him and his
misery plebeian ways.
lit " rs only the coming into power of
a new faction that sent 70 Pom Chin 10
this country. AS is known, Lob belonged
to the progressive party of his country,
and the dearest dream which he cher
ished was to see Korea In line with the
civilized nations of the world. Ye Pom
CT in is for himself alone. He is entirely
selfish, and does not care snap what
becomes Of others or what trouble arises
so long as he himself can profit or can
retain his place. Ye Pom Chin is OF the
conservative party, which is in power at
present.
'The minister, it is said by the Koreans.
Is in deadly fear of assassination. on
count of the beheading of former prime
minister and a minister of agriculture. He
is said to have been the prime mover in
the conspiracy, which ended in their lives,
and it is the friends of the dead men who
he is afraid viii revenge them"
The private secretary Of Pom Kwang
Lob was seen at the residence Of the dead
man this morning, and asked IL the real
reason of no member Of the legation at
tending the funeral was that the minister
wished TO slight the memory OF the de-
! ceased. Mr.. PAX thought a moment. as
! If considering whether or not he should
| allow his resentment to bubble over. Then
| his diplomatic instincts got the better OF
| this idea, and he said, slowly and care
| fully:
| "The minister was sick, or said he was
! I'll. and that was sufficient 10 keep him
/ away"
was it not strange" the reporter ques-
toned, watching him closely, that the
minister and entire legation should be-
come Ill so suddenly and without apparent
reason. II is seldom a household is af-
fiicted in such an extraordinary manner,
and then recover in such remarkably
short interval of timer
( PAX had TO smile in spite Of himself. and
when II was stated a fumor was afioat
that the minister's stay here would nor
be very lengthy on account Of the insult
to Lohs ashes. after it shall be brought
to the attention OF the king his eyes fair
ly sparkled, and he half murmured an as
sent
81 cannot tell how that will be- he said.
Then he added automatically again:
The minister gave an excuse and we
must accept it."
1t Is not only the insult to the memory
of the departed Korean nobleman which
has aroused ground Of complaint in the
breasts Of the Koreans, and which may or
may not. as time viii prove. cause the
recall OF Minister Ye Pom Chin. Princes
We What and Min were the greatest
friends of Mr.. Lob. had been his guests
and were with him when he died
II is understood they are highly indig-
nant over the matter, and That Ye VIVA
will present the facts 10 tho king. his
father. and endeavor 10 have the minister
punished for his lack Of common cour-
tesy IL nothing else. In refusing to be pres
ent at the last sad rites over a fellow
countryman, who was a faithful subject
and az the time Of mis- demise entertain
ing son Of the king himself. Prince Min
Is the nephew Of the queen of Corea.
Another cause for complaint. and a most
grave one. Il ts considered. is that not only
did Ys Pom Chin refuse 10 show respect
10 the memory OF Pom Kwang Lob. but
discharged member Of the legation be
cause the latter would have assisted in
doing him honor The member was Eos
tar Jennings, who. as II was thought emf
nently At and proper. tried 20 SECURE a
Korean flag from the legation. after II
mad Deen refused BY the minister. The Hag
was 70 drape tins casket OF the dead states
man. Mr.. Jennings kindly offered 10 o.,
tain the flag, and was promptly discharged
BY the minister.