The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1907-07-25
KOREA T0TTERS
CABINET MINISTER'S RESIGN AND
WALK OUT IN BODY.
RULER REFusEs ToABDkCA1E
He Says He Occupies Position Through
Ancestral Rights and viii
Not Be Ousted.


ing advised him to abdicate.
He said to them that he occupied
the throne by right inherited from his
ancestors and that his subjects had no
authority to advise his dethronement,
much less to do so with the support OF
foreigners.
Marquis Ito, in compliance with the
Emperor's urgent desire to see him.
even for short time, proceeded to the
palace this afternoon.
n PAX Yong Ho, who was recently par
Ndoned and who, upon his return from
Japan was appointed minister OF the
imperial household, has reported that
the Emperor of Korea emphatica!ly
protests his ignorance regarding inc
dispatch of the deputation to The
Hague and says his abdication would
only tend to confirm his relation
thereto. For this reason he Will not
abdicate.
The Emperor he says, will prove OBJ
durate in resisting his dethronemeni.
The Emperor's loss of the loyal ad-
herence of a large portion of his sub
iects will, 1t is believed, result In the
gradual development of his majestys
policy to always play one minister or
faction against another, SO as to pre-
vent the concentration of power In any
single body, the result Of this is that
none will faithfully support him at the
risk of life.
The Emperor himself is constantly
distrustful of all about him and
haunted with the fear of an attempt
upon his life. Consequently boiled rice
is served him at each meal in locked
silver bowl which he opens with key
always kept about his person.
Patriotic Koreans condemn his pol
lev as sacrificing the national inter
est to his personal benefit and wei
fare.
The ii Ching Hoi, progressive as
ISOLATION claiming membership OF l.
100000, is now openly hostile TO the
Emperor and 1t is doubtful even II the
few now standing by him Will continue
their support until the last. A sumclent
inducement is likely to make them de-
sert the Emperor, who is now In the
most pitiable predicament.
Placards were posted in one OF the
thoroughfares calling for the death OF
all Japanese officials in Seoul.
The ministers are strongly guarded
81 and every precautiCn has been taken
NO prevent riots and attacks upon OF
ficials.
The Emperor is reported to be too
worried to take food or sleep, but this
report is considered to be one OF his
usual maneuvers to enlist tie sympa
thy of his people.
Actuated by Patriotism.
Tokio.-As result of urgent repre-
aen. alton by the ministers, 1t was
thought probable that the Emperor OF
Korea would abdicate in favor Of the
crown prince as the first step toward
reform in Korea. This would have
most likely been followed by the call
ing of new convention, which, while
keeping Korea's national existence in
tact. would limit the sovereign power
In such way that the ruler could eX'
ercise his powers only with the con-
sent and approval of the Japanese res
ident general.
The present ministers in Seoul say
they are actuated by true patriotism
and are determined to place the ko
rean government upon firm basis,
free from court intrigues and selfish
plots.
The report from Seoul that the En-
peror attempted to seek refuge in a
certain consulate is officially discred
tied, but it is thought that evidently
intriguers are at work on plan to re-
move the Emperor from the palace.
A rumor that the Emperor has pri
vately ordered the palace guards, 100
strong, to shoot any suspicious per
sons, is causing dismay to those not
concerned in the plot.
First Son An Idiot.
The Hague.-Ex-Premier vi Sang
Sui, the only member of the Korean
delegation still here, declares that he
dictate. He said:
"Such reports are always spread by
the japanese as a threat when they
wish to impress Seoul in order to OBJ
tain what they desire"
Keiroku Tzuzuki. head of the Jap
anese delegation. also disbelieves the
report, regarding the Emperor's abdi-
cation. He thinks that the Emperor,
who is very astute understanding that
Viscount Hayash's visit might mean
that Japan had some punishment in
store for him for the troubles he had
caused Japan at The Hague, Is en-
deavoring to avert the storm by an
nouncing that he is ready to abdicate.
Certainly something must be DONE
said the Japanese delegate, ito pro
tect ourselves against any further ko-
rean incident like that at The Hague"
M. Tzuzuki believes that even II the
Emperor does abdicate, his successor
will not be his first son, who is prac-
tically an idiot, but his second son.
whose mother was concubine, thus
giving rise to all kinds of court in
trigues.
Emperor Changes His Mind.
Tokio.-A late dispatch from Seoul
says that the Emperor convened the
elder statesmen at l o'clock. morning |
of July 18th. The Cabinet ministers |
waited in an adjoining room while the
Emperor conferred with the elder |