The age-herald., 1901-04-04
M'LEAvY BROWN OF coREA. Reforms Introduced By the Financiei Whom Russia Has Just Displaced.

McLeavy Brown, the director of Corean customs, who was removed from office last week at the instigation of Russia, has occupied unique place in Oriental politics for years. From the time he assumed his duties he had absolute charge of the finances of the little kingdom While he has often been referred to in the East as Yan- kee, he is full-fledged British sub ject.
 Brown came into power in Corea when the finances of the King were in a fearful tangle No official had a fixed salary, but grabbed whatever he got his hands on and called it square. Whenever an official got hold of any public money from any source he merely put it in his pocket, applying it on his account.
 There was no postal system. When ever any one wished to send letter he applied to the most convenient ofti- cial, no matter whether he was magis- trate or Taotai, and drove a bargain. The official held the applicant up for all that he would stand and then sent the letter. provided it was convenient
 Brown was the man finally selected to inject business principles into the affairs of the nation. One of the first things he did was to get lot of post age stamps printed and to attempt tc organize a sort of postal system. Or the stamps were printed characters representing Great Corea"
 As China exercised a sort of limited sovereignty over Corea, the Chinese Minister promptly and vigorously ob jected to the inscription. The king dom had no business to consider itself great was the basis of his protest. The King sustained the objection and re- fused to pay the printers bill.
 Whats the use of having men go around and sell these things, anyhow, and only to have them struck on let ters and plotted off again?" growled the King. The old way is the best, anyhow" And IL was some time be- fore Brown was able to introduce his postal system into the country.
 Brown soon got into favor with the King because he kept books, and in a short time got the debts of the nation paid off without raising the taxes. But while rising in the Kings favor he was constantly having peck of trouble with the ministers and the officials These would want to have their sal arcs paid two UT IHTeo lIIlleS 6dCD month, and frequently would bob up under assumed names in order to gel an extra rake-off out of the treasury
 Until recently Corea suffered from a Queen Dowager She was concu bine of the father of the present King who took her as a legal spouse be cause his wife was barren. The old Queen ruled things with a high hand and cut mems heads off in indiscrim- mate fashion. She finally forced the King to abdicate in favor of his second son, the incumbent.
 The first son Is dead. but he left a son, who is the legal heir to the throne. This pretender has always been a source of trouble. A few years ago the Corean government sent hin to London, agreeing to give him g monthly stipend, but the money stop ped after the second month. In sore distress, the prince applied to an old Quaker of wealth, named Braithwaite whose son was agent of the British Bible Society in Japan and slightly acquainted with the Corean royal fam fly. Braithwaite loaned the prince 915 with which to cable friends fol . loan.
 The prince is now living in Tokio as . refugee, while his uncle and Browr have been running things at home.