The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-04

The missionary fields. While Confucian.
SIN has Influenced Korea, Buddhism
never gained such foothold in this
as in China and Japan. There
are no gorgeous temples here, and for
500 years (and until recently Buddhist
priests were not allowed within the
walls Of Seoul. There are missionary
stations thruout the country, and at
Ping Yang there is native congrega-
ton Of 1900. At Seoul, modern hos.
pital, built with money given by Mr..
Severance of Cleveland, Ohio, has been
opened by DR.. Avison, where, besides
care of the sick, medical training is fur
nished to natives who desire to fit them.
selves for this profession. was assured
by DR.. Avison and by missionaries resid-
ing here that young Koreans, both men
and women, learn quickly and are faith
full assistants. The medical mission
airy, being in an excellent position to
show his Christian spirit by helpful
service, is doing much to aid in the
propagation. Of our religion in the o1i.
emit. In this connection I might add
that DIR. Allen went to Korea as a medi.
cal missionary and became the emper-
or's physician. This intimate relation
gave our country good standing here
when the doctor afterwards became the
American minister. These friendly re.
lations are still maintained thru present
Minister Morgan.
The government Of Korea is an abso-
Lutte monarchy and has reigning FAM
lily which has held the throne for about
500 years. All authority emanates from
the emperor and is exercised thru min
listers, governors and subordinate Off
Gals appointed by him. If one can
trust the stories afoat, the government
is as corrupt an organization as can be
found on earth. Just who is responsible
is not clearly known, but that Offices
are sold and all sorts Of extortion prac-
ticed there can scarcely be doubt. There
is no spirit Of patriotism, such as is to
be found in Japan, and why should
there be when the government gives SO
little return for the burdens which it
imposesS Changes in the cabinet are Of
frequent occurrence, there having been
something like sixty within year.
For a, long time Chinese influences
was paramount and the Chinese govern
ment had a resident minister in Seoul
who was the confidential adviser of the
royal family. But Chinese influence
ended with Japan's victory in 1894;
soon afterward Queen Min, the wife Of
the present emperor, was put to death,
and, the murder being charged to ths
Japanese, the emperor took refuge at
the Russian legation. Now that Japan
has driven Russia out, she is virtually
in control of the country, altho the
! nominal sovereignty Of the emperor has
not been interfered with. Just what
form the japanese protectorate will
take has not yet been decided, or al
least has not yet been announced. Mar.
| quis Ito is in Seoul now as the repre-
| sentative Of his government comforting
with the emperor and his ministry
| In the end the protectorate will be
whatever Japan desires to have it, fol
neither Korea nor Russia nor China i!
| in position to question her decision
Besides building railroads thru Korea
the japanese have established bank.
and issued currency for Korea il
place of the copper cash generally used
The government, recognizing the incon
venience Of currency which had to b,
kept in huge boxes and paid out a
the rate Of thousand or more to tn,
dollar, had farmed out the right t,
coin nickels and these were soon eoun
terfeited. The counterfeit nickels hav,
been classified as, first, better than tn
originals; second, good limitations
third, poor limitations, and, fourth
those that can only be passed on darl
night.
Japanese soldiers are to be see,
everywhere and Japanese settlement
are to be found in all the larger cite:
The Koreans as a rule regard the ney
Japanese invasion with silent distrus
and are in doubt whether the purpos
Of Japan, is simply to protect hersel
from future danger at the hands o
China and Russia, or whether she is e1
pecting to COLOMBO Korea with her ow
people. If Japan purifes the govern
ment and makes it honest; If she estaf
fishes schools and raises the intellectus
standard Of the people; If she revive
the industries now fallen into deca
and introduces new ones; if, in othe
words, she exercises her power for tn
upDulldlng OF horea anu Tor the az
vancement of the Korean people, sh
may in time overcome the prelude
which centuries of hostility have or,
ated But what nation has ever exc
cised power in this wayi And ho
can Japan do it without developing a
educated class which will finally cha
lenge her authority7 If she keeps til
Koreans in ignorance and poverty, the
!, will be sullen subjectsi IL she leat
r them to higher levels .hey will I'll
S more quickly demand their indepen,
: ence and be better prepared to secul
f it. Which course will she pursuef