The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-19

tftude toward Korea, in answer to a
question why Japan interfered In the
internal affairs of a country whose In
dependence was guaranteed by treaty,
Count Inouye said:
tFor the reason that Korea needs
our help, and without I'll she would fall
at once into anarchy, we are CONNER
cially interested in her, we have more
of our people settled upon her soil
than any other country, she is filled
with distraction and we cannot afford
to see her go to pieces. The war with
China was undertaken for the reform
alton and welfare Of Korea, and we
must go on with the work.
The present war cloud arises di-
rectly from the Manchurian situation.
Japan realizes that Russia's control Of
Manchuria checks the Japs in their
Chinese commerce. Hence Japan de-
mands that Russia evacuate Man
churia and In order to get coign Of
vantage to menace Russia in that Chi
nese province Japan needs Korea and
threatens to throw troops into that
country; she sends a fleet to support
these troops and Russia hurries war
ships into Korean waters, as a counter
move. .s .."
AS to territory, the average breadth
of the Korean peninsula is about $50
miles, and the full coast line extends
about 100 miles. The area Is 84,424
square miles, or more than one third
or about the same size as Great Brit
ain or the state Of Minnesota. The
population is about 10,5OO,000. While
the state of Minnesota has popula-
ton of 16 to the square mile, Korea
has 124 to the square mile-about
one-half as much as the most densely
populated parts Of China. The
hot ~ i,
America, but the extremes are more
marked and intense. The most prom
1nent physical feature Of the country is
the mountain range which constitutes
the backbone of the peninsula and ex-
tends thru its whole length. From
this mountain range numerous spurs
extend in every direction, enclosing
many pleasant and fertile valleys and
river basins. In physical appearance
the Koreans resemble the Japanese
more than the Chinese, but they are
taller and stouter than either. The
upper classes are polite, cultivated and
pride themselves on their correct de-
pertinent, while the lower classes are
social, vivacious and talkative. They
are neither Industrious nor clearly,
and althO they are surrounded by
abundant natural resources, they live
in a depth Of squalor unknown in civil
liked countries.
Korea's one characteristic product is
ginseng. No American can realize
what ginseng Is to the Chinaman. To
him it is a sovereign, all-inclusive
cure-an He chews its bark or drinks
Its tea for every pain and ache, and
when nothing is wrong with him he
uses 1t as a preventive. That Korea is
the granary Of the world may ~ very
we'll account for China's willingness to
fight Japan for the possession of the
hermit kingdom. There is a sort of
ginseng in Indiana, and some millions
China yearly, but it is of inferior quail
ty to the Korean article, which is said
often to bring it's weight In gold in the
| Picking market. Aside from ginseng a
little rice and an insignificant amount
| of beans are Korea's chief exports
One characteristic incident Of daily
| life In Seoul, showing how little above
barbar1sm is the material well-being
Of the city, is described in Mrs. Bish-
ops book: I'm Seoul all chimneys
empty in the narrow streets about two
feet from the ground. In the evening,
when the fires in the novels are started
for the cooking Of supper, a trip
abroad is one of unmitigated suffering.
The principal fuel is dried grass and
weeds, and the smoke which belches
out from the foundation Of these mud
and clay houses is simply Sitting,
The whole city is covered with a smoke
pail In thirty minutes. The one ad-
vantage that the smoke possesses
however, is. its ability to tenn porarily
suppress the five thousand separate
and distinct stenches which emanate
from SCOUTS dreadful thorofares"
| The conflict between barbarous ira
d1ttons and modern invention, which
mas taken place In Korea during: thu