The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-23

to make inquiries. He learned that
the schooner had been burned and the
crew massacred, but beyond the dis
patch of a letter to the king, no salts
faction was obtained Congress and
the people of the United States were
not satisfied to let the matter rest
here, and in 1871 Rear Admiral
Rodgers was sent with the entire
Asiatic squadron to obtain satisfac-
ton, and: secure, If possible, a treaty.
The fleet first anchored above Chem
ulpho, silenced the forts and assembled
to the outskirts of Seoul. Rear Ad-
miral Rodgers, however, accom-
plished nothing, and sailed away,
leaving the Koreans under the i'm
preston that they had repealed the
invaders.
Singularly enough, when the United
States finally opened diplomatic rela-
tions in 1881 with Korea, it was the
fruit Of Admiral Schufeldt's effort six
teen years before. He had sent let
ter to the king, but did nor or could
not walt for an answer. The missive
did reach the kings hands in due
course of time, and an answer favor
able to a treaty was returned. AS the
bearers of the 1nissive did not find
the Wachusetts at Chemulpho, the
government post conveyed 1t to the
American minister at Picking. It was
addressed to Commodore Schufeldt in
person, and when the Picking minister
received 1t he sent it to the United
States after Rear Admiral Schufeldt,
whittier the latter officer had gone in
the meantime. Rear Admiral Schu-
feldt was away on service in another
part Of the world at that time, so the
letter remained at Washington for
some years. At length the right party
got it. Its contents included friendly
overtures, and stated among other
things that the king did not consider
himself responsible for the massacre
of the General Sherman crew. Rear
Admiral Schufeldt at once received
appointment as envoy to Korea, and
visited the country. He was properly
recognized by the Korean authorities,
and in short time treaty was
signed between the two countries AZ
terward cottage-house was built on
the open space where the ENJOYS met,
near Chemulpho, and it is standing to
this day, being the home of the Amer
lean consular agent.
Japan's Dealings.
Japan had in the meantime, in 1876,
secured the opening of Korean ports
to her trade, and other nations fol-
lowed suit. Japan had to fight to
maintain her position against the op-
position of the antiforeign element,
and various disorders led to the sta
tioning, for a time, of Japanese and
Chinese troops in Seoul. A compli-
Gated series of assassinations and 9TH
err political crimes eliminated in 1894
in what was known as the Tong Hok
rebellion, an antiforeign movement
which led to the sending of troops by
China. The Japanese did the same.
A dispute arose as to the respective
rights of the two powers. Japan cap
tured Seoul and enforced, or attempt
ed to enforce, certain administrative
reforms. These were the events
which led to the war between China
and japan. The chief outcome, so far
as Korea was concerned, of that con-
flict, was that the king solemnly adj
jured his vassalage to China.
Assassination of the Queen.
Japan lost no opportunity to
strengthen her position in the coun-
try, but the appointment of the father
of the king as regent for the time
being to counteract the influence of
the queen brought on another crisis.
The Queen Of Korea was a clever and
ambitious woman, who stood behind
the throne and directed the policy Of
the country. Being cousin Of the
old imperial family Of China, her ten
denotes were entirely anti-Japanese.
Accordingly a conspiracy was set on
NOR suggested her diplomatic enc
mics as bearing hand In any case,
during October, 1895, the palace was
attacked, the king impounded and the
queen murdered under circumstances
of unparalleled brutality. Some Of