The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-05-18
NISCOUNT AONE. THE ACTING
RESIDENT GENERAL. TELLS
WHAT HIS PEOPLE HOPE TO
DO WITH THE COUNTRY.

VIA HIS HOPE TO
DO WITH THE COUNTRY.
He Says the Koreans Are Unable to
Govern Themselves end That Japan
Must Teach Thenl-A mpa OF
EdHCatiOn sanitary Improvement
and Advanced Neutrality-suspicious.
for Twenty Million More People
The Brigands and the Fire Rob-
befs-The Open Door and Foreign
Irade-Ihe New Government Hos
pitaf-A Korean Garden Party.
Copyright, 1900. by Frank G.. Car
penter.)
SEOUL. 1909.
1t vas at the residency general, a
big frame office building that stands
on the hill not far from the south
safe, that l met Fiscount Arasuke
Some, the man who, in the absence of
Prince Ito, is acting as the real ruler
Of this and of Korea. On my way
there l passed the palace in which the
retired emperor is practically impris-
oned, and as l Wen on through the
japanese quarter and climbed the hill
/ could see the palaces OF the present
emperor over the great plain Of tied
roofs composing the city. [ have al
ready described my audience with
him and given you some idea OF his
mental ca!ibre. He is merely a figure
head. and has no power whatever ut
side of his Immediate court. The man
| met today is under the direct con-
troll of the Emperor of Japan, and he
Is now exercising supervision over all
affairs in Korea. The country is nom
inally governed by the local officials,
but they act as the resident general
directs, and neither appointments nor
dis!nissalS can be made without his
consent.
BY the agreement between Japan
and Korea, when the emperor was de-
posed and his son put in his place, it
was stipulated that the resident gen
eral should reform the administration
n that the government Of Korea
should not enact any law or do any
important thing without his approval.
! was provided that 1t should appoint
japanese to such official positions as
the resident general recommended,
and that nc foreigner SHOULD be en-
gagged without his consent. In short,
it meant the turning over of the ko-
rean government almost absolutely
into the hands Of Japan, and this is
the condition today.
The Man Who Rules Korea.
Viscount Some is we'll known as an
administrator. He has been several
times n the cabinet of the mikado,
and has been a real working force in
Korea He knows all about the coun-
try; and, While conservative in his
statements. evidently believes that
the Japanese Will be able to handle
it successfully. During my talk of to-
LAY 4 ohto I1AAi1 ICtI1Ni IL 1iiouSib
the Koreans were capable of self
government. He replied:
They are not so now. All their
traditions ana training have been
along the lines OF oppression and cor
ruption. They have been unmerciiul-
~ squeezed by their rulers and do not
know what good government means.
1t VIII tai some time to educate
them to it. We shall have to teach
them TO crawl before they can walk,
and il VII be ear before they are
able to govern themselves
us it the idea of Japan to make the
country independently
Yes, when the conditions are such
that il can maintain an independence
which viii be for h good of the
people and at the same time not in
furious TO the interests of Japan"
The .Anti-JapancSe Sentiment.
VIVA is the situation today, your
e~xcellency? l understand that many
Of the Koreans are not in favor of the
new regime"'
That is true" replied the resident
general. These people cannot appre-
ciate the fact that Japan is anxious
to benefit them and their n
They have been oppressed by for
eigners through a series OF years ana
not fairly treated. For a long time
they were under the protection of the
Chinese government, which largely
directed their affairs for its own bene-
fit. Then the Japanese, after their wal
with China. took charge OF many
th:ngs and the Russians did keW1se
The result is that the people suspect
our sincerity. They annot DelleNe
that their rights and property are not
to be taken away from them. or mat
their country is not eventually 70 pe
a second Japan. It will take a long
time 10 eradicate th2se suspicious, ana
it cannot be done by pronounclamentoS
and speeches.. 1t Will have to be ac-
complisfled by works. and that is "nat
we rronosa TO do. We shall build
roads. industries and intro
duce improved agricultural methodS:
We have already wiped out most OF
the corrupt courts, and are seeing
49,. 49, xa1rJo have j11Sticp among