Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-07-20

elers seem to be far less welcome in
this picturesque country since Japan
gained control than they are in ia
pan itself), Is such as to afford the
best material for n new lola to arise
and startle civilization with "J'ac-
cuse!" For instance, II Is undeni-
able that up north the military
whether officially or unofhcially
matters not-quartered their female
camp followers upon the natives with
such scandalous results that the
church officials compelled the Korean
Christians to abandon their homes
rather than to endure and witness
the demoralizing use that was being
made of them.
Everybody knows that the Japan
csc have put into high places some
Of the worst rascals in that choice
collection of superlatiye rogues, the
Korean ofIlceholders, thus making
ludicrous her pretense of reform"
While l was in Korea the story
was published, and later authentl-
Gated, that a young Japanese had
tried to force an old Korean out of
his home. The latter refused to give
up his ancestral habitation. There
upon the Japanese set upon him and
beat him, tied beam to his shoul-
ders, weighed it with stones, and
then strung him up 10 the caves of
his dwelling, where he died in
agony. When the murdered man s
son returned and discovered the
crime, he and some friends started
in pursuit. The murderer fled across
river; the aVenger, with knife
in his teeth, swan after him. The
fugitive was caught and killed, and
remember that Korea is in the
Orient, with immemorial customs
the heart and liver Of the criminal
were offered as a sacrifice to the
spirit of the slain Korean.
OF course, this waG wro1g-one
crime never justifies az other; hut the
deterrent effect will doubtless be
greater than the example made of
another japanese slayer of a Korean,
who was sentenced by the Japanese
to an Imprisonment Of two :'ears!
The instance is one of several re-
ported of late which would seem to
indicate that, driven to bay, the long
submissive Koreans are desperately
refusing TO play the role of dumb,
driven cattle"
VIII Korea's day ever come
again? Is Japan going to succeed
in her apparent purpose of eliminat-
ing the Koreans, as she once Climi-
mated the Anus, and =; inc white
men eliminated the North American
Indian? Where is help to come for
the poor Korean, who, while he lacks
the enterprise ans self-confidence of
the Japanese, is in certain important
respects his pronounced superior?
His present Affections, by the way,
are really waking up the Koreans
dormant qualities.
Some Koreans are looking hope
fully to the meeting of The Hague
tribunal. Others expect that Russia
when rehabilitated will make COM
mon cause with her, or that Ger
many will express her belief in the
yellow peril" doctrine by coming
to the help of Chosen. Still others,
more far-seeing, point out that ia
pans conduct in Korea, of which
China must be perfectly aware, will
prevent the Japanese from ever
getting a foothold in China, and may
eventually lead Korea's ancient suze-
rain to reclaim her former depen-
dency. Foreigners seem to think
that an enlightened and aroused
public opinion in Great Britain will
do what force of arms may not do,
for Japan cares more for the public
opinion of civilization than for any
other power. Succor for poor Korea
surely will come from some quarter,
for the uncomfortable cannot be inter-
minable.-From an article in The
Independent.