The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-19
KOREA, THE COCKPIT OF THE EAST
Country With Inert Populations and Corrupt Government
Why Russia and Japan Seek It's CONTROLS Recent Political
HstoryThe Products and Resources
American Tourists

and it is always large-goes into
the pockets Of the local agents. I'm
der this system there is no incentive
to the farmer to labor and no hope
for the artisan if he achieves any
thing. If a man accumulates a little
wealth he lives in howell lest he
should be suspected and despoiled. AS
a result, there is everywhere lament
able ignorance, restitution and crying
discomfort. AS for corruption, that
is boundless and appalling. The poor
people themselves, tho filled with mis-
accustomed to being skinned that
they neither know nor care to be re-
ieved. There can be no conception
of the hopeless ignorance and Wrtech-
edness of Korea. There is no way of
telling In Seoul what the receipts and
expenditures or resources Of the gov
eminent are. No account is kept.
of any kind. When the royal house
hold requires money, it sends to the
local authorities and demands it, and
the money is raised by pillage and
force, as mentioned. It is expended
without record. The accounts Of the
Korean government are simply like
that of the American landlord who
wrote in his book at the end of each
year. All paid in and all paid OUT
There is no financial responsibility
whatsoever"
Why. then, should Japan and Rus
STA be constantly showing their angry
teeth over this spoiled and worthless
country, willing to waste blood and
treasure for the possession of it? A
country's people may be spiritless and
degenerate, its government vicious and
it's cities unkempt and dirty, and yet
there may be possibilities Of wealth
in it for ambitious, growing nations
such as seem now about to fight for it.
Korea Is peninsula OF much the
same shape and size as Florida, jutting
out of eastern Asia. It is the nearest
land to Japan, whose islands form a
rough crescent enclosing it. On the
other hand, it lies between Siberia and
the sea, forming what would be a
most desirable coast line for the covet-
Gus bear. For centuries there was a
relation Of suzerainty between Korea
and China. Japan long disputed this
suzerainty, and in 1894 proved her
contention in the test of arms. The
Chinese gateway near Seoul, at which
the kings of Korea had for centuries
done obeisance to Ch1na's ambassa-
dor, was torn down and a handsome
modern structure erected, named In
dependence arch. A few miles from
toise, one of the several works Of art
set up in Korea to symbolic Chinese
dominion. 1t was held that so long
as this enormous tortoise remained
right side up the rule Of China; in
Korea would be undisturbed. AS
soon as the Mongolians disappeared
down the horizon, under the active
stimulation Of Japanese bullets, the
victors went out and Topped this
igneous testudian over like a f1apjack.
He now lies with his toes turned to-
ward the blue heavens, a Inundated
witness of the fact that the Monaghan
is doing no visible governmental bust
ness in Korea at this writing. And
what is more, the Japanese, in order
to prevent any misunderstanding as to
the significance of this bouleverse-
ment, keep a soldier on guard by his
side day and night. Thereafter
Korea has been nom1nally independ-
ent, but Japanese influence has been
constantly gaining dominance in all
the subtle ways that could be devised
by an ambitious and clever race; ur-
gently in need of tributary territory
to accommodate the teem1ng popula-
ton which overflows Japan's narrow
borders. On the other hand, Russia
has met intrigue with intrigue and to-
day seems willing to meet force with
force. A Japanese statesman, in an