The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-28
For Centuries the Land of the Morn
ing Calm Has Been Assa1ed By
Conquering Armies from Without
and Torn By Bitter Strife from
Within.
BY ARCHER BUTLER HUBERT,
Formerly Editor of the Korean Independent

Formerly Editor of the Korean independent.
w T is doubtful if there were people so afraid
of devils as the Koreans; and there must be
II some connection between their wild supersti
tions 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, assaed now by Japanese
hordes from the East, and then in turn by Chinese
from the West, now overrun by rough Manchu con-
querors from the North and, lastly the bone of
tention between Russia and Japan, the Koreans
solemnly go about with a devils sgoin to get-you
expression their faces. They protect the coun-
try from devils and likewise the cities and temples
and houses, and beat drums to drive the devils out
The fabby drums and the clay monkeys have
equally, been of avail. Koreas strange position
geographically, between China and Japan and,
STILL her being attached to the Manchurian mainland
can explain why this stalwart race of men seem so
utterly without hope in the world And if it
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 i'll Korea
1t was to put down a murderous uprising of these
punderers that Japanese soldiers landed in Korea
Korea Is Afraid of
Her Own Army
Koreas internal difficulties in part explain her
complete subjection to powers without. This is
emphasized in the case of her army. In most
tries the army is supposed to be protection from
foes within and without In Korea the very
true; the army is perpetual menace. The sol
ders drawn from the lowest ranks of society
L.. Al
means that man cannot does not wish to make
a living in any honest dishonest business.
For centuries Korea was under the nominal
eighty of China, who left her quite alone, though
claiming full possession and often eXactng tribute.
During those years Korea embamed like toad
in those social and political encrustatons which have
made China the ong-lived lifeless nation The
shock of the Japan China War burst open the rock
in which the frog had been encased; it found to
be still alive, but hopelessy unable to do than
breathe.
Japan now declared Korea's independence China
had said Korea was independent and acted if she
were free; Japan declared that she indeper-
dent but acted if she were not. The poor frog,
blinking in the sunlight knew not 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, in
1907 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 1eaped headong into the Russian quagmire.
Then pretty diplomatic move. By dint of
admirably planned maneuvers Russian officials were
one 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 wellstrained Englishman, who had done
wonders for Korea since his appointment as chief
of the Customs Department. dismissed; an
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 going on, the lease of Port Ar
thur-which Japan captured during the Japan
China War, Russia compelling her to give it up be-
cause of the menace to Pekn-from China was be-
ing negotiated. When this effected and the
lease was announced Russia satisfy Japan, gener-
ously relinquished Korea The English Customs
Officer was reinstalled after his Russian successor
had stepped down and out; the doors OF the new
Russo-K Korean Bank were closed; in fact Russia
withdrew hands down. Those who realized what
was happening were compelled to laugh. AS For
eign Ambassador to Korea said to the writer rus
sa threw Korea sop to Japan on the lease OF
Port Arthur" because she thought she could regain
it at any time.
Is if any wonder that the Koreans fear devils?
Through the centuries of dependency she raw