The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-15

Very little Importance should be at
tached to the sporadic and transient
successes reported by cable to have been
gained in Corea by rebels against the
Japanese domination, or to the rumors
that the Toxic Government does not
mean to carry out, in the spirit as well
as the letter, its agreement to keep
southern Manchuria open to interna-
tional trade. With the slow but ire
sistible movement of a glacier Japanese
emigration and civilization will over
flow the Corean peninsula, and there is
no likelihood that the access of foreign
to southern Manchuria will
encounter unfair obstruction in the
region south of Mukden until Toxic feels
disposed to quarrel with both Great
Britain and the United States, an event
that cannot be expected to occur for a
long time to come, if ever.
The Peace of Portsmouth made it as
certain as anything mundane can be
that the hope cherished by the Japanese
for many centuries would be fulfilled,
and that the Corean peninsula, through
NlllCl WClC tiuli5lillttSu W tllCli lOiC~
fathers the rudiments Of Chinese civili-
cation, would with more or less celebrity
be Incorporated with the Mikado's en-
pire. So acute of late years has become
the pressure of population on the means
Of subsistence in the island realm that
an outlet for its surplus inhabitants was
seen to be indispensable, and as for
obvious reasons this could not be Sc
cured in a southerly or a southwesterly
direction the acquisition Of Corea was
recognized as the sole possible solution
of the economic problem. A region
comprising about $4,000 square miles
and as yet thinly peopled, though rich
in agricultural and mineral resources,
will for many generations offer a tempt
ing field to Japan's expansive energies.
1t would be strange, indeed, if the proc
ess of absorption were not attended with
some friction; but to suppose that the
grip of the Mikado's subjects, once
fastened on the coveted peninsula, will
ever be loosened permanently is the
stuff hat dreams are made of. The
few and faint attempts at resistance
made recently by Coreans have simply
caused the Toxic Government to facili-
tate the work of assimilation by order
ing a strong military force to occupy
strategic points,
1t is probable that men 10Y living will
be able to appreciate the magnitude Of
the harvest reaped by Japan from her
victory in the last Far Eastern a She
will need to import no foodstuffs when
the fertile soil of the peninsula has been
turned fully to account, and her stock
Of the precious metals and of the useful
minerals will be signally replenished.
When Corea was independent gold mining
was long prohibited, and even the per-
mission at one time granted to extract
and treat silver ore was withdrawn.
The extensive copper mines were neg
lected and vel the use of coal was
confined to certain districts. IL would
surprise nc n Conversant with the
tountry's capabilities if in Japanese
hands Corea should undergo as sudden
and as rich a development as was wit
messed in California after tnat outlying
adjunct Of the Mexican republic was
acquired by the United States. Curl
ously enough, it is not impossible that,
as vanquished Greece conquered her
conqueror, Corea, even in her hour of
subjugation, may add to the intellectual
obligations for which Japan is already
in her debt. For Corea possesses that