The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-12-07
WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY DEcEBER

THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
was 1t not? He had Ministers to Eng
land and France and the United States
and few other places, and was going
along all right. Korea was quiet and
inoffensive, with q hundred or SO men
in its national army, and a converted
yacht which it called Navy" and it
paid it's bills, and asked no odds Of any
bcdy. That was yesterday.
Today the Korean Emperor wears a
puppet crown, the legations are abol-
ished, and Japan Is In control. Korea
good did that do? The Russian-Jap-
anese war changed the map Of Asia and
this little Kingdom, just about as big
as Kansas. with eight times the popu-
lation of the Sunf1ower State and his
tory which goes back to 1920 b. c.,
was part of the spells which Japan got
for pounding the stuffing out Of the big
Russian bear. There was little Kor-
can Prince, son of the Emperor, who
traces his dynasty back through more
than 500 years, who came over to the
United States to study how to be
learned, and to get a military training,
that when he grew up he might be the
31st of his dynasty and rule his people
even better than his father, who is the
seth of his House to sit on the throne
of Korea. The little Prince was a
hieh-fiyer. he certainly was, and he
Just raised particular cain in every
school where they "incarcerated" him.
He kept the Korean Legation here in
hot water all the time, ran away and
got lost down South somewhere, came
mighty near marrying a fool American
girl who thought she saw throne in
sight, and learned about everything
but how to grow up great and good.
The poor little chap might just about
as we'll had his fling, for now his throne
is gone, and he is poor. But, then
Japan has swiped Korea two or three
times before and had to let go. SO may
be the little Prince will live to sit on
his throne yet.
Secretary Root has informed the
japanese Government through Minis
ter Takahira, that hereafter he will
conduct the affairs relating to Korea
through the Japanese Legation. The
action was taken upon the receipt by
the State Department of official infor-
nation from Japan that that Govern
ment had established protectorate
over Korea and that in the future d.
conducted from Toxic. The useless
ness of an American Mission at Seoul
was at once made apparent, and Mr..
Morgan, our Minister there, has been
informed that his work in Korea is
over. He will undoubtedly get some
other post, as his services at Seoul have
been efficient and valuable to this Gov
eminent.
The treaty Of amity and commerce
between the United States and Korea
will not be affected. The consular
officers in Korea will remain where
they are.
The adjustment of the Legation at
Seoul will save the State Department
salary alone is $500. The Legation
staff at Seoul consists of Mr.. Morgan,
G.. Paddock OF New York, Secretary of
Legation. and Consul-General, Capt.
Andre w. Brewster. military attache,
and one native interpreter. Capt.
Brewster is also accredited to the Lee
CATION at Pekin as military attache.
1t is said that the business methods
Of the General Land Office and its
branches are of the most antiquated
Kind, and that the chief AIM In that
section of the Department of the Inter-
Tor seems to be to swell the Golfers of
eXtortiOnate express companies. 1t is
said that the books are Of the compli-
taken in by the Receiver of Land
Office are never registered. and that
unless the funds are specifically called
for, the Receiver is just that much
better OFF. Just now this matter Is be-
ing looked into and some kind Of re-
fern will be instituted. Instead OF US
ing the mails, the Land Offices in the
Great West send checks by express 1t
Is said that in one small Land Office
over $500 was paid in one year Just to
express checks which might have been
carried for 50, by using the mails and
a two cent stamp for each. Graft,
graft, graft!
0, my, oh! They really and truly say
that Paul Revere was a dentist Think
of 1t, dentist, albeit a good one. pre-
sumably. for that day: but one look at
the false teeth that Washington wore,
and which are deposited at Mt. Vernon,
Is quite enough. They might have been
blocked out for cow. don't you know.
mouth. 1t wasn't little mouth,
either. that the Father of his Country
had.
N. III. Darton, Of the Division OF Min
eTal Resources OF the United States
Geological Survey. has just returned
from seasons work I'm the Wilds OF
the Big Horn Mountains. Wyo, where
he went on a mission for the Govern
ment. 1t appears that early next July
President Roosevelt will open one-half
OF the Shoshone Indian Reservation to
settlement, and It was with q view to
the exact state Of the land
in regard to minerals that Mr.. barton
was sent to Wyoming
OF the mineral prospects, he says
that in the Bridger Range, not far from
the scene of his labors. copper and gold
have been encountered i'm paying guam
titles and considerable excitement pre-
walls. AS for the northern part OF the
Shoshone Reservation, which he ex-
amined thoroughly, he failed to find
the slightest trace Of any metal worth
the trouble OF mining. notion had
prevailed that this tract was rich in
minerals. but IL such is the case, Mr..
barton states, it is certainly not re-
vealed in any Of the surface formations.
The Shoshone Indians, he said, are
not at all concerned over the fact that
part of their reservation Is to be opened
to settlement. as they have never oc-
cupied this area. worth speaking of,
but have from first to last lived hud-
died together, in true Indian fashion, In
the southern half Of the tract.
Reform in the Departments here in
Washington seems about to begin at
the wrong end. Instead of beginning