The record-union., 1897-05-21
How COrea is Governed.

COrea IS ANXIOUS to enter the ranks
of progressive States by contracting
public debt. The sum of S3OOO,OOO is
all she wants, but it is doubtful that she
can get it, except at the cost of her al
ready very problematical independence.
Russia is the only country likely to ad-
vance funds to Corea. Japan has with
drawn in disgust, not SO much on ac-
count of the political opposition against
her in Corea, as because the few reforms
which the japanese managed to carry
through before Russia became predom-
inant in the Land of the Morning Calm
have either been abolished or rendered
Intellectual. The independent (SeouD
gives an interesting account of the man
ner in which Corea is governed, to show
that the country is not a safe place for
foreign investments. The ''Independ-
metz relates the following:
I'm recommending a person for an Of
fee by Corean officials, the qualifications
of fitness of the candidate are seldom
considered, but the strongest reason
they put forth is that he is unable to
make a living. Therefore the whole
Government service is filled with per-
sons who have no other reason to oc-
cupy the positions than that they could
not make a living outside; and a large
majority of them seem to have no other
duty to perform While holding offices
than drawing the salary and often
something besides. The only class of
Coreans who are earning honest living
by hard work are the farmers of the
country. But they have no de-
sire to produce surplus, under the ex
listing condition of the Government. For
the last 100 years the corruption of the
officials has reached such degree that
it has simply killed the enterprising
spirit of the whole nation The con-
sequence of this is that if man worked
five acres of land the year previous, he
cultivates only three during the follow
ing summer. If he is still bothered by
the lood-sucking magistrates or Gov
ernors he reduces again the acreage of
land for cultivation. They produce just
enough to enable them to eat boiled rice
three times day until the next harvest.
They dare not build comfortable houses
or wear respectable clothing, because
of the fear that the magistrates might
think them rich men,"
AS an instance of the kind of men ap-
pointed to office in Corea the ''Inde-
pendent" describes the career of the
present Minister of Justice, Cho Pyensik.
The independent" does not wish to be
taken for a mere scandalmonger and
says expressly that these are not mere
charges. but they We're proven" We
summarize as follows:
when Pyensik was Governor of the
Chung Province he stole $4,000. He
was removed from his post-and ap-
pointed Minister of Justice soon after.
In his capacity as Minister of Justice
he caused his former Private Secretary
to be murdered for giving information
against him. Pyensik was banished
from Seoul for this murder-and made
Governor of Hamkyeng. There he in
terfered with the japanese, which cost
the Corean Government $4,000 in in
IDENTITIES. He was again appointed
Governor of Chung, pillaging the people
and killing twenty-one while amassing
a fortune. Arrested, and convicted of
robbery and murder, he was released
from prison after a year and made
Grand Master of Ceremony. Some
months ago he memorialized the throne
to re-establish the old system of Gov
ernInent. TO dDollSH the uSe VI tHe oH-
nun, to kill the relatives of political
prisoners, to wear the old style court
dress by the officials, etc, but his sug-
gestions were not accepted by the
throne. Now, he comes out again as
the Minister of Law and Councillor Of
the State. What a checkered career."
The Celestial Empire" (ShanghaD
thinks Japan cannot be expected to con-
tinue her support of Corea under such
circumstances. When a man like the
above described is chosen for Minister
Of Justice. and another one-Hong, who
murdered Kim ok Kun in Shanghai
holds another high position. we cannot
wonder that Corea makes little or no
advancement in civilzation.-Literar
Digest.
1t takes about three seconds for a
message to go from one end of the At
10 ia "a IA. To. he or