The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-08-29

AApWSfSl MUCH the WOTiQ may De
In doubt as to the future develop
ments in Korea there is one point
on which 1t may rest confident, and
that is that Japan will dominate and
direct all the affairs Of the kingdom.
This the Japanese are frank to ad-
NIT, even to the Koreans themselves,
for Marquis Ito, resident general at
Seoul, said recently In an address:
You may talk all you please about
the independence OF Korea, but no
country can be made independent by
others If 1t cannot stand alone. One
who wants independence must learn
how to get IL" And 1t may be safely
Inferred that Japan in her control OF
the kingdom will take good care that
the Koreans do not learn this les
son.
There is reason for regret that cir
cumstances have arisen by which
Korea has not been permitted to de-
velop its own racial individuality and
to work out its own destinies, but in
all its long existence it never has
been, for the Land OF the Morning
Calm has always been a battlefield
for other nations. Throughout its
history China and Japan have stimuli
taneously claimed and alternately ex-
ercised authority over the land. Seven
teen hundred years ago a Japanese
woman, the widow Of a mikado. ap-
peared in Korea with feet and army.
The king Of that country submitted
without a struggle. He tied his hands
together and suffered Queen Jingu to
hang her bow over the gate Of his
palace and to inscribe on it THE King
Of Korea Is the Dog Of Japan" Ever
since the Japanese have claimed the
domination of Korea. And recent
events are but repetition Of history.
Yi-Heui, the erstwhile emperor, was
but following in the footsteps Of his
distinguished ancestry, when he abb
dieated in favor of the crown prince
at the polite but emphatic invitation
of Marquis Ito.
1t Is undoubtedly true that Yi-Heui
during his reign of over 40 years has
done little for his people, but the
disinterested world-spectator is ask.
ing the question, Will Japan do more?
For nearly II years now by the right
of conquest and usurpation, the Jap
anese have from time to time exer-
cisesd sovereignty in Korea.
Their most prominent agents have
Jeen the late Mr. Hoshi Toru and Gen.
Miura Hosti when he returned to
Toxic and endeavored to introduce the
system Of graft and corruption which
had characterized his official conduct
in Seoul was promptly assassinated. |
and Gen. Miura was sent to prison for
making possible, If he did not actually |
inspire, the horrible murder Of the anti.
Japanese queen. Undoubtedly at times
the intentions Of the Toxic govern
ment have been honorable and sin
cere attempt made to elevate Korean
morals and the bureaucratic ideals of
the slothful Yangbans. However. al |
most invariably the men chosen for /
the difficult task have added by their /
activity but little honor to the war.
like halo Of the rising sun banner.
The political chances would seem to
be in favor of the early removal OF the
emperor Of Korea to Toxic, where he
could play royalty in exile with the
former king Of the Foo-Choo islands
the last Of royal line with whom
Commodore Perry made a treaty Of
peace, amity and commerce some
months before his memorable entry
into Yeddo bay and the closed world
Of Japan. With the head Of their
royal house in exile or a prisoner the
sleeping Koreans may be aroused to
he danger of what is more irksome.
he discomforts Of their situation. and.
once aroused, there is historic prece-
lent to show that the Korean can be
IN awkward customer On two sepa-
ate occasions and without foreign
assistance he has driven back the in
'ader who came from across the Sea
II Japan to rob him OF his beloved
atherland, his wide-aowing sleeves
md his top-knot hairdress.
But such developments, while not
impossible, are highly improbable
'apan has settled down in Korea to
tay. Yi-Syek, the new emperor win
i've the official stamp to all that
apan does. and be content that he
permitted to live in regal splendor
ie was born in 1874, and is the son
4 Queen Min, who was so brutallv
murdered In 1896. The present nm.
eaval at Seoul is quite IN contrast
Q that tragic event, although then
apan was an interested factor as
he is now.
But perhaps 1t is because Queen
lin was so strong character and
er son 50 weak that the bloodshed
Ihich marked her elimination from
-orean affairs Is absent now IN the re
ent upheayal. Undoubtedly it was
le anti-Japanese attitude Of Queen
In which inspired her murder. al.
lough the prime conspirator is al.
lifted to have been tile national grand !