New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-12
CoREA'S DECEASED COIN.
SEVERE BLOW STRUCK AT JAPAN'S IN
TERESTS IN THAT COUNTRY.

-7-r4a attention viii be attracted more and
-,o-e 70 the Yellow Sea and the lands when
CO.., its bounds Recent travellers through
,rs,ch,1-fa affirm that in spite Of Russia's
statement that the evacuation OF that province
rs already begun the building of substantial
barracks and other structures is being actively
,s1a7 There can be no req sonable doubt that
me handing over Of Manchuria viii De merely
-o-r4rsI Russia viii never move far enough
- ,-event TIE possibility Of actual though per
ms not nominal control over that territory
--ba necessity for guarding the Manchuria
So, ~ the Siberian Railway viii always
.4or4 2 prerext for the virtual domination OF
,1a territory through which il passes
This much must be taken for granted as one
NJ The few definite facts il regard 70 the Whole
,--ra-inn II Eastern Asia. The people OF Amer
a. can have 10 reasonable objection to this so
10 a. No structures are put upon American
commerce II those regions. OF course, one OF
+ba opeu questions IS, How long will this terri
-o~v he open 70 free commerce: Nheh Lle
-o-- n4 Dalry was established by imperial ukase
9 vas officially stated that the port should De
ope1 70 The trade If al countries and the ao-
4srz-- territory u line 10 be determined ~
ne Minister Of Finance at St petersburg III
,-7z- words. while the port is free, the iI1r7e-
5fa-e surrounding country may be smut 20 lo'-
es-- 5r7ro--s / IS such wide and obvious loop
roiaS ss his bv which Russia leaves ne fNtuTe
o,er n the contamination Of her own plans
Prr while soma things are fairly settled II
Nanchuria everything IS in the air 50 1aT -
Corea is concerned. Japan has mora tha7 TWEEN
- thousand subjects in Corea- most Of "l'lI
ere engaged in mercantile pursuits. while RUS
sian subjects can almost be counted On me
fingers Of the Two hands and Russian coI1l-
rnerce Is practically nil Japans heaNS "A
rerdirrre o. railroads n the peninsula and the
~ -ne-e
b.ze ro,r6 Corea 50 firmly to japan that the
..--a- g y-7T-v affected by the course OF events
8 0ores This has come 10 be one Of the settled
-ofrts in the Eastern probler'-nar7elv. the vital
Importance OF Co-ea 10 japan
Fu- recent events seem 10 indicate that these
interests have been threatened Ever since
1864 Corea has adopted the curious policy that
the excbequer can he replenished by nlnting
money. forgetting that Il costs about the face
value Of coin 70 mint Il honestly Every issue
Of coin since that tine has resulted in de-
preciared currency. and during the last quarter
Of the nineteenth century the purchasing power
Of Corean money shrank 80 per cent Houses
that sold for 1o090 cash II 1880 now bring
10000 and every other commodity has appre-
ciated II proportion. The latest issue Of coin
has been the most disastrous Of all It consists
Of I've cent nicke-s- While the currency Of the
country was the cumbersome copper cash. Of
which ten pounds IN weight was worth only 8
United states gold. i vas practically i1pOssi-
be 70 counterfeit Il The work involved and
the size Of plant necessary 70 mint the cash in
having Quantities made il practically impossible
70 escape detection, but the new nickel coins
lent themselves perfectly 70 the art Of the
coun-e-feite- The nickel blanks could be
purchased II japan OF elsewhere a. 4 cost OF
cent apiece. and all the counterteiter needed
was e room 5 by : feet and z small machine
to- stamping The rlcke-s The scrUPuIoUs Jap
gusse were among the first 70 enter this fed Of
unlawful enterprise, and the country was food
Cd with spurious coin and its exchange value
steadily dropped. unrn to-day i IS Al discount
o. 3 Per cent as compared with japanese cur
rercy.
Now. Of course this worked ruin 70 japanese
trade The rapid fluctuations in exchange acted
u trade he way that earthquakes act on level
rice fields After few shakes" they VIII not
hold water. 4 severe blow was thus struck
Il ire very basis Of Japans interests il Co-ea-
A. TIE same tire other Influences, thoroughly
fninicaI 10 Japan. were urging The government
70 continue the rli1rng Of the obnoxious nick
els and backing Up and encouraging the most
conservative. and, indeed. ret-og-essive, ele-
merts IN the government The object Of al
ms could Dc nothing else than 10 undermine
Jspan's commercial supremacy il Corea- The
representatives Of the japanese Government
protested against the continued use Of the OBJ
noZ5ous coins. though japanese subjects had
PLAYED z conspicuous part IN debast-g them BY
countertel-tng. The government considering il
ss-t secure in the possession Of foreign back
ing from other quarters. turned a deaf ear 20
Jspsn's demands. The publication Of the terms
Of the ArgIo-Jzpanese alliance caused some
thin II panic II government circles, and IN
Ger TIE pressure q the moment the government
Was Induced 70 invite high japanese Official
II Ka-o. esq, former Minister TO Corea, 10
come a1G act as adviser 70 his majesty But
The cloud blew over, Russia blanGly accepted
and spplauded the new alliance. and the Corean
covs-nnent saw that the former status had
nct been seriously disturbed So when the new
adviser arrived. instead Of taking his place near
tie Emperor. he was made adviser 70 the De
r-rrnear Of Agriculture. Commerce and Pub
lie Works which amounted TO direct afront 10
japan
Noc The least orninous sign Of the times is
Japal's silence in the face OF these REFUSES
There IS settled feeling in the minds Of those
who have watched closely the trend Of events
that Japan has about reached the end Of TEN
porizlng measures. and that her next move VIII
Dc something quite definite and effective Nom
inaIy no one stands in the way Of Japan's
commercial interests in Corea. but at the same
tine beneath the surface there Is a strong
counter current which Is working directly
against those interests, and is bolstering Up the
most reJrogressive principles and plans 1t Is
quite safe 10 say that this state Of things can-
Tot last The japanese are quite astute enough
10 see where the trouble lies. and now Ihat
England Is relieved Of pressure in South Al
r5ca there are MANY who believe, and with
reason. that Japan viii CRY a halt 70 the tenn
porting methods and suggest that matters De
50 adjusted in Corea that trade VIII not De
killed nor the Corean people be further SUD