The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-09-07

However much the world may be
I'm doubt as to the future develop
ments I'm Korea there Is one point
on which Il 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 II IL cannot stand alone. One
who wants independence must learn
how TO get IT," And It 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 It's own racial individuality and
20 work out It's own destinies, but in
all it's long existence II never has
been. for the Land OF the Morning
Calm has always been battlefield
f6r 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 Japanese
woman. the widow OF mikado, APP
penred in Korea with fleet and army.
The king of that country submitted
without struggle. lie 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.
YiIIeui the erstwhile emperor. was
but following in the footsteps OF his
distinguished ancestry, when he alb
dcated in favor of the crown prince
at the polite but emphatic invitation
of Marquis Ito.
II 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. VIII Japan do more?
For nearly ~ years now by the right
of conquest and usurpation, the Jap
anese have from time to time eXer-
clsesd sovereignty in Korea.
Their most prominent agents have
5een 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 81 the
emperor of Korea to Toxic, whore 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
the danger OF what is more irksome,
the discomforts OF their situation, and,
once aroused, there Is historic prece-
dent to show that the Korean can be
an awkward customer. On two sepa-
rate occasions and without foreign
assistance he has driven back the in.
vader who came from across the Sea
of Japan to rob him Of his beloved
fatherland, his wlde-ilowing sleeves
and his top-knot hairdress.
But such developments, while not
impossible, are highly improbable
Japan has settled down in Korea to
stay Yi-Syek. the new emperor, will
give the official stamp to all that
Japan does, and be content that he
is permitted TO live in regal splendor
lie was born in 1874, and is the son
OF Queen Min, who was so brutally
murdered in 1895. The present up
heaval at Seoul is quite in contrast
10 that tragic event, although then
Japan was an interested factor as
she is now.
But perhaps 1t is because Queen
Min was so strong character and
her son so weak that the bloodshed
which marked her elimination from
Korean affairs is absent now in the re
cent upheayal. Undoubtedly II was
the anti-Japanese attitude Of Queer
Min which inspired her murder, al
though the prime consplrator is ad
mitted to have been tile national gran