Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-22

ISyM ID tually part of Japan, and
IRA ri it is the commonly expressed
le=eAAzA opinion among foreign resi-
dents of this country that an
nexation and the oblition of rights
of extra-territoriality will be the next
developments of Japanese policy. In
fact, the Japanese press has not hesi-
tated to urge that these steps be taken.
1t Is true that the royal house, the ''ra-
pose of which Japan has guaranteed
several times, together with the inde-
pendence of the country, still exists.
1t is royal in merely formal sense
The young emperor, concerning the
question of whose mental Incompetence
those who know him best differ, but
not very widely, is a prisoner in one
palace. In another the retired emperor
is a prisoner. Should visitor to Seoul
wish to see either he must get per-
mission from the residency general.
He could not hold a conversation with
the emperor or the retired emperor
without Japan having knowledge of
what he said.
A part of the campaign Of publicity
pursued by the Japanese authorities
with regard to Korea has been the
picturirg of the former emperor as
both weak and wicked. Americans
who were closest to him during the
troubled years that preceded his down
fall, differ as to the degree or MS
ability and the height of his aims as
a ruler, but no one who investigates
the conditions under which he retgned
can fail to see that in the desperate
game of politics he played there was
not the slenderest chance for success.
In depending upon China's ability TO
whip Japan, and casting the lot OF his
kingdom with that country, the ruler
of Korea made no greater mistake than
did the rest of the world, but ne nau
more at stake.
After the murder of his wife, the
king-he did not become emperor until
1ater-made a brilliant If somewhat
coup when he escaped from
his iailers in a woman's closed chair
and was carried, under the noses or
Japanese guards, to the Russian lega-
ton. For the moment he was In the
saddle IL not upon his throne IN the
palace. He had established relations
with Russia which laid the foundalloh
for intrigue upon the part OF that power
looking to the gaining of a better 1901
hold in Korea. He had escaped the
Taiwonkun and the Japanese, Who' as
he s1lpposed, were determined to mete
out to him in good time, the fate OF
his queen. ST.
The escape of the king and the dis
comfture of the Japanese was followed
by a royal proclamation demahGihg
the blood of the traitors who had aided
the Japanese, in the murder OF the
queen, and in other projects OF the
imperial government looking TO the ap-
sorption of Korea. The result was
rioting. in which several Of the former
ha lTiYaO had formed
a new cabinet-were murdered. Inc
news that the king was again IN power
however to quiet the majority
of Koreans, and the announcement
that reforms were to be undertaken
was received gladly by both Koreans
and foreigners.
Now returned to Korea from Wash
ington, DR.. Philip Jaisohn, a Korean
who had been a reformer In 1857 ana
who had fed to Japan and then to
America after the uprising. So Jai
Peel he was called in Korean. He
had worked his way through college
in America, had become a naturalized
secured a government posi-
tion, studied at Johns Hopkins uni
versity and received a degree in medi-
cine. He was practicing his profes-
sion in the national capital Wnen the
news of the murder of the queen
reached him, and he at once threw up
his profession and started home. He
became foreign adviser to the king.
An optimist, he took Korean reforma-
ton seriously, and set about hasten
ing it. His methods were up-to-date
and distinctly American.
An athletic park outside Of Seoul, an
agricultural experiment station, a
conducted upon the Amer
lean plan, and announcing that It's rea-
son for existence was to create public
opinion in Korea, were among tha
early visible results of the return or
the Washington physician. Then came
tho Independence club. fashioned after
the pattern of political clubs in Amer
lea. and something of the philosophy
Of various modern American states
men and politicians began to be dis
cussed in Korea. The Independence
club was fiourishing, and the popular
organ, "The Independent" coming hot
from the presses in both English and
the vernacular, when Russia and ia
pan signed a treaty to mutually re-
spect the independence of Korea.
clause provided that neither power
should send troops into the country
the consent of the other. In
this treaty Japan slipped back to the
position occupied by China when a
somewhat similar treaty had been
signed between the two yellow ma
tions dozen years before. 1t looked
rs If Korea was in fair way to be-
come the vassal of Russia. But Japan
her accustomed plan Of bid
ing her time and recruiting her
strength. The king, who had deserted
the old palace after the murder of the
queen and feared to return to it, built
4 new palace in the foreign quarter
to be near his friends. Russian Off
GERS were put in charge of the palace
guard and the army Affairs seemed
80 prosperous that the king went to
he Altar of Heaven and crowned him
seIF emperor The Hermit kingdom