The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-18
VI YONG ks RISE TO
PREMIERSHIP OF KOREA
Twenty Years Ago He was a
Coolie, Sweeping Yard of
Great Nobleman.
HATED BY THE PEOPLE
Squeezed Them for Taxes, Fore
ing Them to Sell Children Into
Slavery-DepoSed by Japan.

teresting personalities of those whose atti-
tude had much to do with the crisis culmi-
mating in the present war of Russia and
Japan is that of vi Yong TX, former prime
minister 70 the Emperor of Korea, whose
pro- Russian activities and intrigues led to
his deposition from power and his exile to
Japan. as soon as Japanese domination was
fully established in the Korean capital Two
days before the attack on the warships at
Chemulpo. ne was interviewed by +. A Nc
Kenzie, correspondent of the Daily Mail in
Korea, who sends this account of the meet
ing and his impressions of the man to his
paper under a Seoul date:
Il will bow low when he enters" whs-
pered my Korean companion nervously. Il
will humble myself before him"
We were seated in the reception chamber
of vi Yong TX, the supreme minister of
Korea, the man whose name is cursed in
a thousand villages, and whose shadow is
feared in 10000 homes Others have risen
before in this land who have earned the
name of oppressor and extortioner, but he
has surpassed them all.
Twenty years ago he was coolie sweep
ing the yard of a great noble. To-day he is
real commander of the army: he holds the
public purse. he has started national in
dustries, and he has given the Emperor
money and himself power Other ministers
had squeezed the people, as they thought, to
the uttermost farthing, but when the hand
of vi Yong TX caught them even paupers
found funds somewhere to escape. If you
can do naught else, you can at least sell
your children into slavery when the hand of
the tyrant falls.
From the room where we were sitting
we could gaze into the inner courtyard of
the palace. Picture a congeries of low,
one-storied buildings. The outer approach
is narrow. filthy lane, leading off a main
street. Armed sentries stand at either end
of the lane, and group of armed soldiers
lounges near the entrance gate. 1t is not
safe for a great minister to go unprotected.
Even the placid Korean turns sometimes,
and the ruler who falls victim to a mob
in Seoul knows during the last hours of
life the cruelest agonies earth can pro-
duce.
Through the entrances one or two twists
and turns through gates and archways
bring you into the inner yard. On this
afternoon there were soldiers and officers
everywhere, and in the central square
stood a number of white-robed Koreans,
clients. suppliants. hangers-on cooe
came in with a heavy load. THAT is
present for the minister" my companion
whispered THE Governors of the prov
inces send rich presents" A fawn came
into the yard and played with one of the
soldiers. flock of pigeons with home in
the caves, rose in flight.
The room in which sat small.
vi does not waste money on display, and
many ruler of small province has
grander house than he. The chamber had
a polished leather floor, brown paper slid
ing screens in wooden frames for walls.
and mat at one end to serve as seat.
There was no other furniture.
A soldier or a child would stare through
the open door every minute or two. The
whole scene was typically Oriental. Then,
strange incongruity, a telephone bell rang.
A shabby officer darted into the next room.
Who's there. who's there?" he called in
Korean. "Hullo. What do you want?
Why don't you speak up? 1 can't hear
ceiver on one side, just you do in your
office when the exchange will not put
you right.
ENTER VI.
Enter vi Yong Tx. a tall, broad-shoul-
dered. commanding man. You need no sec
ond glance at him to see that here is one
who can accomplish things. There is none
of the softness of the typical Korean in his
face, and yet there is nothing revealing the
character for cupidity and tyranny univer-
sally attributed to him. The cast of the
features is Monaghan. One understands
after seeing him how, the coolie became
head of the state.
vi speaks no English. but he shook hands
English fashion, and beckoned us to squat
down the mats in the adjoining room.
My interpreter humbled his forehead in the
| dust before him.
vi did the same to me. and I replied as
| best L could. Truth to tell. had real work
| TO. stow my legs away in unobtrusive fash
! ion. as the others did Before our talk was
| over my violently compressed muscles were
aching in a way that sadly interfered with
my enjoyment. If you doubt it, try the ex-
pertinent of sitting on the ground for an
| hour with your legs tucked under you.
The minister promptly cross-examined
me. Did | believe there would be war?
| When did L think war would come? Why
| die. / think so? What were the Japanese
doing? This was courtesy on his part. and
| courtesy equally demanded that / should
disclaim all knowledge he knowing all be-
fore. and yet should tell him what knew.
/ Questions as to my own movements were
easier answered.
Then VI spoke emphatically. 1--WE be-
lieve there will be peace" he said. There
| will be no war. L gazed at him. Did he
not know that but an hour before the Ko-
rean wires had been cut at Masampo by
] Japanese troops landing there? Was he
| unaware that at this moment japanese
transports were stealing up from Tsushima
| full of armed men; that Russian transports
were filing with soldiers at Port Arthur?
L urged such points on him. Il thank
you fer your advice" he replied, without
moving muscle.
| "Advicer L replied. BE it far from me
to advise. 1 am but youth, while you
have seen many years. Il am as nothing
while you are the ruler of many provinces
| 1 dare not advise. L only repeat to your
| Excellency what is on the lips of all men,
1T is well, came the reply. But what
matter these things to us? Let Russia ano
| Japan fight; Korea will take share In
their night Our Emperor has issued hi.
declaration of neutrality. By that we will
abide. We are very glad that England ha:
recognized our declaration. and we are
glad to do all we can for Englishmen."
You have issued your declaration" / an
swered. But what IL the armies of Russia
and of Japan come? What If their ship:
land men your shores? Can you driv,
them off? What will you do? Will yol
appeal 10 the powers for help"
"Our soldiers are not strong enough Il
drive off the Russian japanese armies
But there will be no need for us 10 appea
10 the powers If our neutrality is broken
They will come without being asked, anC
will protect us.
After much more talk to the same effec
our interview ended, and / slipped on m,
boots 10 make my way to my rickshaw
while VI went along 10 the palace 10 hi
regular meeting with the Emperor at
o'clock.
A GREAT CAREER.
Twenty years ago. and less. as I hav.
said, vi was coolie. Friends of my Owl
can remember him when he was engaged
in the most mental offices in the yard o
a great Korean His master liked him
and had him appointed gatherer in
small district. Here vi was in his element
poor man himself. he knew all the trick