The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-28
For Centuries the Land of the Morn
ing Calm Has Been Assailed By
Conquering Armies from Without
and Torn By Bitter Strife from
Within.
BY ARCHER BUTLER HUBERT,

- I IS doubtful if there people afraid
of devils the Koreans; and there must be
il some connection between their wild supersti-
tons and their desperate history throughout
the centuries in which Korea has played the pro
fessional storm center of the East
1t is no wonder that. assaulted by Japanese
hordes from the East, and then in turn by Chinese
from the West overrun by rough Manchu
querors from the North and lastly, the bone OF
tention between Russia and Japan the Koreans
solemnly go about with devrs-goin' to-get-you
expression their faces. They protect the
try from devils and likewise the cities and temples
and houses, and beat drums drive the devils
The habby drums and the clay monkeys have,
equally, been of avail Korea's strange position,
geographically, between China and Japan and,
still, her being attached to the Manchuran mainland,
can explain why this stawart race OF men seem so
utterly without hope in the world And as if it
not enough that the outside world should have been
continually picking bones in ravaged Korea the little
land, no larger than the State OF Utah, and contain
ing population equal TO that of the State of New
York, has desperate enemies within. Recent dis
patches to America have mentioned of these
the Tonhaks; they band of organized ruffians
who have opposed the Catholic Church in Korea
1t was to put down murderous uprising of these
plunderers that Japanese soldiers landed in Korea
in 1884, preciptating the Japan China War.
Korea Is Afraid of
Her Own Army
Korea's internal difficulties in part explain her
complete subsection to powers without. This is
emphasized in the of her army. In most coun-
tries the army is supposed to be protection from
foes within and without In Korea the very reverse is
true; the army is perpetual menace The sol
ders are drawn from the lowest ranks of society
and form a class still lower. Joining the army
means that cannot does not wish to make
a living in any honest dishonest business.
For centuries Korea was under the nominal sover-
eighty of China, who left her quite alone though
claiming full possession and often exacting tribute
During those years Korea embalmed like toad
in those social and political encrustatons which have
made China the long-ved lifeless nation. The
shock of the Japan-Chna War burst open the rock
in which the frog had been encased; it found
be still alive but hopeessly unable to do more than
breathe
Japan now declared Koreas independence. China
had said Korea independent and acted as if she
were free Japan declared that she was indepen-
dent, but acted if she not The poor frog,
blinking in the sunlight knew what any Of these
words meant
Japan dosed him with sudden reforms which he
could not digest, and eventually he spewed them all
upon the ground when the Emperor of Korea. i'll
1897, took refuge from both his friends behind
the doors of the Russian Legation The frog
couldn't get back to the dreamless sleep within the
stone and he shrank violently from. remaining in
the sunlight; so. gathering all his latent strength
he leaped headong into the Russian quagmire.
Then pretty diplomatic By dint of
admirably planned maneuverS Russian officials were,
by one, installed the heads of the various de-
partments of the Korean Government; they
controlled the exchequer. the customs. the mint the
army. A wel-trained Englshman who had done
wonders for Korea since his appointment as chief
of the Customs Department, dismissed;
American who under contract for FIVE years
as adviser to the Korean Cabinet paid up in
full and released to return to America.
Russia's Diplomatic
Sop to Japan
While this was going on, the lease of Port Ar
China War, Russia compelling her give il up be-
cause of the TO Pekin-from China be
ing negotiated. When this effected and the
lease announced Russia to satisfy Japan, gener-
ously reinqushed Korea. The English Customs
Officer renstalled after his Russian successor
had stepped down and out; the doors of the
Russo-Korean Bank were closed: in fact Russia
withdrew, hands down Those who realized what
happening compelled TO laugh. As For
eign Ambassador to Korea said TO the writer Rus
sia threw Korea sop TO japan the lease of
Port Arthur" because she thought she could regain
it at any time
Is il any wonder that the Koreans fear devils?