Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28
KOREA. CHINA'S "LITTLE BROTHER"

Rid ssia has Just sent a circular note to
the bowers interested. protesting that the
proposed removal of the EN-
Russian peror of Korea to Japan is
pro+o.+ violation OF the treaty of
Shimonoseki, executed by
Russia and Japan QS95), which guaranteed
the autonomy and independence of Korea
Japan protests that she has no such inten-
ton but the Emperor of Dali Han. like the
victim Of the guillotine by persuasion. has
no confidence. The cruel fate of Queen
Tourandot, besides. must ever be In the
mind OF Emperor Ii.
What sad reflections those Of the en-
peror when he recalls the peaceful repose
which characterized his relations as the
little brother to China, broken in fatal
hour when, yielding to the suggestions OF
Russia and the United States he struck Tor
liberty and independence. not from tyranny,
surely, but only from the time-honoreo
privilege of vassal, which dated from the
Wang dynasty. of sending each year to
Picking a tribute composed Of the precious
Iife-giving ginseng.
A train of evils has followed the kingdom
in its flight to empire. from Tai Chosen, tai
Kun Chu.'' or great king of great Chosen"
to Italian" or Great Emperor Of Han.
Revolutions of palace. assassnations innu-
merable, his murdered queen, Tourandot.
and finally his own prospective taking
off," AS Shakespeare has truly said:
I'm these. cases we still have judgment
here, that we but teach bloody instructions,
which being taught return to plague the
inventor"
The treaty at Inchou executed May %,
kingdom of Chosen. declares:
article 1. If other powers deal unjustly
or oppressively with either government, the
other will exert their good offices, on being
informed of the case, to bring about an
amcable arrangement, thus showing their
friendly feelings.
What action IL any, will the United
States take on the assumed appeal which
Korea, or, more properly, Chosen, has made
to the good offices of the American govern
ment?
The treaty of Inchou was followed in the
same year by treaties with England. Ger
many. France and Italy. Japan had al
| ready made treaty in 1876, and China was
represented by a resident by virtue Of rec
OgniZed suZerainty.
Our so-called little war with the heather
marked first relations with Korea,
unwilling from the first to
American accept the white mans bur-
Relations. den" or communicate with
the despsed occidental whom
| she disdainfully treats even now as "the
barbarian from the western ocean,
What more pathetic and picturesque re-
Spouse than that which the Tai-Yen-Keun.
regent during the kings minority, address,
| ed the American Admiral Rogers in 1871.
who had been sent to inquire about the
| massacre of the crew Of the American yes
Al Cba~ ie col IL
ed from Shanghai in 1867, ostensibly to
| open up the country. in reality to steal a
number of collins reputed to be of solid
| gold and of great weight, in which were in
| tered the bodies of Korean kings The
| General Sherman stranded In the river, was
attacked and burned by fire RATS. and the
| crew massacred.
| The reply of the Tai-Yen-Keun to the ad-
mirals demand for explanation Is as
1 follows:
In the year 1860 a man of your nation
| calling himself Febriger arrived here; he
communicated and then went away. In
1866 a people called the French came to
| our country; we send you to them to learn
| what happened The Korean nation has
| lived 1000 years content with its civiliza-
| ton without any desire to change We re-
| main peacefully at home and never bother
| other peoples. Why do you come to dis
turb our tranquility? Your country IS stu
| ated In the occident, ours in the extreme
orient: thousands of miles separate US; for
| what reason nave you crossed the ocean
| a distance so considerable? If 1t is on ac
| count of the General Sherman. we reply,
that the men of her crew committed piracy
| and murder, and they have been punished
with death. If you desire to take part
| Of our territory. understand that we will
| not suffer that. and even should you desire
| to have relations with US, that cannot be
| also"
| Notwithstanding that response, which re-
| calls the discourse of the Scythians to Alex
| ander, the American admiral landed troops,
10 I~1,, a,,lf 1y,,fv1 ctn rod
| to the fastidfous hermit a correction of
which he still retains vivid souvenir.
| X
| The question arises: Were not the Ko-
| reans quite correct as to the piracy COM
| mitted? Was 1t in any event
| Were We worth the sacrifice of the
1rs+iAedp life Of the gallant naval Of
| Ger to whom a monument
| has been erected in the Academy grounds
at Annapolis?
When President Cleveland urged the
| writer to accept the post of consul general
| and secretary of legation in 1887. he said
| 1T is not much of place. but whilst walt
Ing promotion you may write book"
| Ten thousand miles on fifteen hundred
dollars salary was sacrifice. not a COM
pensation.
The writer entered the west gate of Seoul
| In the twilight of October 20. 1887. A
| throng of curious fdlers squatted Indian
| fashion in the narrow streets swarmed
| about the sedan chair and thrusting their
| faces through the open windows asked !:
| ''Nu gunya?" who. comes there?" The
| coolie porters replied. so yang saram,"
| "A barbarian from the western ocean,"
| On the day appointed for my presenta-
| ton to King Ii HI my consular and Dip
| lomatic colleagues assembled at the palace
| at the presentation to welcome an addition
| to their circle well as to vary the fearful
monotony of life in the Korean capital
| Among them were De Waeber, the Rus
| sian charge d'affairs; NJ. de Plancy, COM
! missaire, and NJ. Guerin, attache of the
| French republic: NJ. Krien, consul general