New-York tribune., 1908-10-10

sale theft of the private property rights of a
dependent and defenceless peasantry.
The author in a few bold strokes gives sur
vey Of the Hermit Kingdom up to the admission
of foreigners within the last few decades. He
contrasts the tortures and barbarous punish
n1ents. the primitive agriculture, the filthy and
insanitary surface with the kind hearted guile
less. simple, Iovable people. Corruption and
cruelty have done much to weaken the Coreans,
but they are capable of loyalty, fidelity cour-
age and endurance. Ignorance and supersti-
ton have kept them back and they nave al
ways lacked the leaders to point the path to
progress. The year 1903 found Corea in a very
interesting situation. Russia had practically
seized Manchuria. and her forces were irresisti-
bly, advancing upon COrea The orgies of Off
cials. the greed of contractors the drunkenness,
the immortality, were 1aunted in the face of
Western opinion. Russia appeared the cor
rupter the foe The sordid side was foremost.
The finer qualities Of the Russian character.
the kindliness, the good humor. the sodity,
were obscured. Every incident that showed the
unfavOrable aspect of her commercial policy was
emphasized and published Russia was present
ing her foes a rod with which to scourge her
Japan meanwhile was showing her best. The
efficiency and control of the japanese troops IN
the Boxer trouble amazed the world. The Brit
ish alliance signalized japanese admittanCe to
place among the great powers. Her statesmen
announced that they stood for the independence
Of Corea and for the open door. Russia for
exclusive trade. Japan for equal opportunities
to all nations Russia ignored English and
American opinion; Japan took every cpportu-
nifty of placating it. Paid agents lectured Eng
Iish audiences on the beauties and glories of
Nippon. A clever press propaganda was insti-
tuted, and books and articles praising Japan
were encouraged
If Japan did succeed in creating an atmosphere
favorable to herself her course redounded to her
credit The millions Of Chinese indemnity had
been wisely expended upon scheme of military
and naval expansion, and her forces We're i'm
bued with patriotism and the finest sense Of
discipline. Such was. in brief, the attitude of
the contestants in the great encounter. The
people of Corea were willing TO take the Japan
ese at their valuation. They had no love
for the Russian rOughness and lack Of disci-
pline. The peasantry believed Japan would
modify the oppression of the native magistrates
the better classes were sympathetic because
they gave Credence to Japans promises and
We're convinced that reforms could be eff
fected without foreign influence. But Japanese
success was not accompanied by moderation
1t seemed to go to the head and make them
harsh cruel, domineeTing, to the weaker people.
Thousands of japanese coolies poured into the
the author
These coolies who had been kept strictly under
discipline in their own land here found themselves
masters of weaker people The Corean magls-
ese residents scattered in the provinces would
not The coolies were poor unedhcated strong
ana with the inherited brutal traditions of genera
tions of their ancestors, who had looked upon
force and strength as supreme right. They went
a thing. they took it. If they fancied house, they
turned the resident out. They beat, they outraged
they murdered in way and on scale Of which
it is difficult for any white man to sneak WIN t
moderation. CoTeans were hogged 20 death IoT
offences that did not deserve a siXpenny fine
They were shot for mere awkwardness. They We're
dispossessed Of their homes by every FORM OF suiIe
and trfckery. It has been my lot to hear from
the districts hundreds upon hundreds OF incidents
of this time all to the same effect me outrages
were allowed pass unDunished and Inheeded
The corean who appr9sched the 6lce OF IA japan,
rule. by the underlings.
one of the greatest evils that Marquis Ito had
70 combat was the control Of immigration. The
Resident General favored a policy Of concilia-
ton and friendship and shipped many of his
unrl.ly, countrymen to their native land. bat the
difficulties Of the problem of q strong people
guiding, controlling and protecting a weak peo-
pe through the instrumentality of agents
chosen from the people governed appear to be
insuperable and to some there seemed to be
only one outcome. frankly avowed, and that is
the gradual absorption and extinction of the
life and become an integral part OF their con-
nuerors OF course when the hand OF the op
pressor became too heavy there opposition,
and the least sign of resistance turned
armed peasantry into rebels. The correspondent
made his way with great difficulty to the part
Of the country where fighting was taking place.
Trained veterans of the japanese army were
engaged in hunting down the ragged, i'll
equipped undisciplined bands of young fellows
that constituted the Righteous Army. Their
condition would be comical if it were not so
pathetic A mere opera bouffe army, with old
sporting guns rust eaten muzzle leaders, harm
less to all but the bearers. and every man
doomed to certain death in absolutely hope
less cause.
Why il may be asked has Japan been so Sc
we're and why did not the Europeans make the
full facts known at earlier date? This book
is a partial TO the first question, and as
TO the second large communities do not quickly
change their opinion Practically every for
eigner at the beginning of the war synpathized
with Japan. They had been alienated by the fol-
lies and mistakes Of Russia's Far Eastern pol