The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-05-12
KOREANS ARE
STILL DENYING

|
scents mendacity of the most atrocious
kind on the part of the japanese in
connection with the furore over the
stories or an alleged Korean plot to
assassinate Bishop Harris, whose inter-
view with the Hawaii Shinpo he has
denied in San Francisco and stated to
be a misrepresentation of his views in
a cable to the Koreans here, sent in
care of Rev. ]. W. Wadman.
The following communication from
presumably representative Koreans has
been sent to this paper:
Editor Advertlser-As the English
newspapers of this city have given
much space and prominence to a sup
posed Korean plot TO kill Bishop NJ. C.
Harris, which statements are mere ere
ations, maliciously promulgated by GER
tain japanese in this community, We
wish to make known the truth.
The Japanese papers of this city
published a statement to the effect that
certain Korean anarchists had sent
cable from here to the Coast to have
Bishop Harris assassinated. This was
later retracted by one of the papers,
but no retraction has been made in the
foreign papers publishing the same. The
following Is a copy of the message sent
to San Francisco in the matter:
Honolulu, April %, 1905, Korean
League, 1872 Aus1in avenue. San Fran
cisco.-After Bishop Harris left here
we read in paper he said: Good work
done in Korea by japanese. Koreans
favOring system of government inaugu-
rated. l will tell President about
Them Will you ask him.-KOREAN
LEAGUE
The reason for sending this message
was that the Koreans did not believe
the statements attributed to Bishop
Harris, for whom they have a great
personal regard, and they did not wish
him to be the subject of misrepresen-
tation. The following reply came from
the Bishop to Mr.. Wadman:
assure Koreans press misrepresent
me. Letter.
The damaging statements have been
published by the press of this city that
the Koreans here are band of anareh-
lists, and this is intended to do incalcu-
liable harm to the Korean cause. 1t is
important to the success of the Japan
csc to place the Koreans in a false
light. Thew know that the Korean
government did nothing to Justify
Japan in taking possession of their
country. Her weakness was her only
crime, and IN order to justify their
measures they must resort to mendacity
of the most atrocious kind.
The Koreans do not believe that the
civilized powers of the world will ulti-
mately allow Japan, without any justi-
fcatiOn whatever, to deprive here of
her sovereignty. Now that Japan has
taken possession of Korea, she desires
to mould sentiment in such a way that
it will be more difficult for Korea to
regain her independence. Hence the
studious circulation o. calumnious re-
ports against Koreans.
In addition TO this disreputable
policy, Japan is preventing Koreans
from going abroad to 5e educated, and
she is expressing Korea in every con-
ceivable way. She even refuses to ac-
eept the money which she claims to be
due her from Korea and which has
been subscribed by patriotic Koreans,
thus increasing the public burden with
the hope that she can fasten more Sc
curely her hold upon Korea. Thus it !
appears that the japanese are trying /
to discredit the Koreans in every way
possible, and 1t seems that the foreign |
newspapers are assisting in this unfair !
work.
The better to understand the charac- |
ter of the Koreans in this country, it /
Is proper to say that there are here less
than five thousand Koreans. They are
for the most part law-abiding citizens.
They have acquired valuable real estate
in the City of Honolulu, on which they
have established a boarding and day
school for Koreans. where English and
Korean is taught: the average daily at
tendance being about fifty. No other
Oriental nation has made anything like
such a showing.
The Koreans are not anarchists.
neither are they assasslns. 1t was most
remote from their thoughts to injure a
hair of Bishop Harris head, neither do
hey charge the japanese. as a class,
With being assasslns. although there has
been several plots among the japanese
20 assassinate persons who have been
oval to the Korean cause.
The Koreans here have absolutely no
ear of the most rigid investigation
hat can be made with reference to anv
dot to assassinate anyone; hence they
invite investigation. All the statements
With reference to the proposed assas-
lnatIon of Bishop Harrie is as we have
aid, intended to not only prejudice the
1nglish-speakng people against Ko-
cans. but to improperly influence the !
etlon of the President of the United !
states and the heads of other govern
1ents against us. If it was not such 2
serious matter to us. we would let it 7
ASS over in silence, but when the in q
ependenee of our country is in stake. +
re cannot permit such malicious false /
Gods to go uneontradicted.
For the Koreans in Hawaii. 6
DAVID H KIM q.