Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-24
ASSAULTS MANY
Assassination of Durham White
Stevens Not Isolated Case
by Koreans.
MOTIVE OF BLOODY GRIMES
Centuries Old Method Used by Typical
Patriots to Express Opinions
on Political Issues.

In reference TO the recent assassina-
ton by u Korean in San Francisco of
Durham White Stevens, adviser to the
Korean council of state, Professor
George Trumbull Ladd of Yale univer-
sity. in q letter to the editor of the
New York Times says:
The cowardly and shockingly brutal
assaults upon our distinguished citi-
zen, the Hon. Durham White Stevens.
furnish an instructive object lesson for
the correct estimate of the Korean
character and the Korean method of
self government. Since his appoint
ment under the protocol of August,
1904, as diplomatic adviser of the de-
partment of foreign affairs" this Ameri-
can gentleman had served the govern
ment of Korea faithfully, wisely and
honestly. He had steadfastly stood be-
tween the Korean people and those
who would Cypress and plumber them.
even when they had formed Illicit COM
biIations with the Korean ruling
classes under the patronage chiefly
procured by brides of the now eX-em-
peror himself. What, then, is the
charge brought against him by his as
sassins, the crime for which he must
be done to death? Simply this: He
had told to the inquireFs in San Fran
cisco the truth-that the long time
abused and robbed common people
among their own countrymen were
coming to understand how the admin
istration of the Japanese residcncy
general under Prince Ito meant their
economical welfare and political pro
lection from the sQueezes of their own
corrupt magistrates and how even
those of the Yang-bans who really cared
for good government in Korea were
coming to the same view.
Yet these assassins are typical pa
triots" of the Korean type. And their
method is the traditional. historical
methods. centuries old in Korea, of ex-
pressing their opinions on political is
sues. Nor is Mr.. Stevens case an iso-
lated or at all peculiar experience.
Last July the same sort of men in
Seoul tried to excite the people to MUIR
der one of the most efficient and tried
friends of Korea among the American
missionaries But what crime had DR..
George Heber Jones committed for
which he deserved to suffer death? He
had spoken in public print admiringly
of the moderation which the Japanese
police and gendarmes had shown in
handling a Korean mob and in depre-
eating way of the perfectly unprovok
ed and cold blooded massacre of sew
eral scores of persons by company
of mutinous Korean soldiers.
Attack Own Officials.
But it is not Americans and Japa-
nese who must look to their lives If
they do not hold and express opin
ions satisfactory to Korean patriots.
During the spring of 1907, the time of
my residence in Seoul, no fewer than
four attempts at assassination of the
Korean ministers were made by Ko-
Teans Themselves. These attempts
were traced to hired ruf1ians who had
come up to the capital city for the
purpose and whose pay for their muir
derous work had been furnished by
subscriptions, as follows: Mr. vi Yong
III, eA-HluiSleT Vi lue lllDeEldi uCuSe-
bold. LOO yen; Mr.. Min Hyungsik
vice minister of education, 1,200 yen
etc. Neither should it be imagined
that this way Of doing the political
business of self government is new
with Koreans.
Eight years ago, when I was spend
ing some days in San Francisco, Gen
eral Foote pointed out to me the blood
stains on his dress suit-spots made
twenty years ago by the blood of one
Korean official, assassinated at the
banquet which the general was attend
ing by officials Of the rival party. MOI
is 1t for a score or two of years that
this kind of patriotism has disported
itself in Korea. Its history is centu
ries old. Korea has never had Other
than a cruel, oppressive and corrupt
government. and the few, very few
really intelligent and devoted leader:
who have arisen have almost, withou
exception. persisted miserably at tn,
hands of their own monarch or OF
their own countrymen. In word, thu
co%ardice, political ignorance, malice