Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-22

AS the emperor gained confidence
ne yielded to the influence of Koreans
or the old regime, who disliked the
| sort OF reform DR.. Jaisohn was push-
Ia me- anu the independent and the In
| dependence club became unponular
within the palace. The upshot was
that the mails were denied to The
| newspaper, and DIR. Jaisohn. who had
been secured under a contract cover
ing several years, was paid off in ad-
| vance till the end of his term, He
| took the hint and took his departure
! for Philadelphia. Russia continued
for time to grow more prominent
and dominant In Korean affairs.
Finally Great Britain took a hand
In the game of Korean politics and
assembled a fleet at Chemulpo. The
effect was to discourage Russia, Find
ing. her position untenable, Russia
withdrew. The emperor was not dis
pleased because he had begun to fear
that European power was about to
absorb his empire. The Independence
club survived for time, leading a
turbulent life, fought by the throne.
and finally went the way of all re-
form in Korea, after having been
charged with attempting to create a
republic. DR.. Jaisohns efforts had
created no little ferment, and even the
women were talking politics during
the last days of the existence of the
movement.
The end Of the year 1898 found the
Taiwonkun in his grave at the ripe
age of eighty odd, and again Russia
and Japan entered into an agreement
guaranteeing the integrity of Korea
Although the independence club prop
aganda had died, it had left certain
amount of fruitage, and foreigners in
Korea looked forward with confidence
to the future. Many enterprises were
afoot. The Korean army was being
drilled with modern weapons. The
navy, with many admirals and one
ship, was fiourishing Electric cars
were running In Seoul. BY the end of
1902 Russian aggression was again so
pronounced In Korea that the west
looked unfavorably upon the situation.
Missionaries and merchants disiked
Russian methods equally and diplo-
matists feared that the bear was go
ing to gobble Korea.
Japan, wearing fresh laurels as the
result of her part in the Boxer war,
and raised to international eminence
by her new alliance with Great Britain,
proclaimed the "open door" in Korea
as her fixed policy and demanded of
Russia a treaty to maintain Korean
Independence and acknowledge the pre-
ponderance of Japanese interests in
Korea and her exclusive right to in
augurate governmental reforms. War
was imminent and the emperor hasten
ed to formally declare Korea neu-
trail. The emperor of Japan declared
war upon the ground that Russia
threatened "the independence OF Ko-
rea."
War began. The Japanese once more
insured to Korea her independence and
the "repose of the royal family" Mar
quis Ito was dispatched to Seoul to
reassure the emperor But as, war
progressed Japan tightened the coils
about Korea. The emperor awakened
from his dream OF security when, in
the autumn following the conclusion
of peace at Portsmouth, Japan de-
manded that he should recall his min
listers from foreign courts and give
foreign affairs. A furious debate fol-
lowed, to the music of Japanese
troops marching and countermarchlng
about the palace. Threats were made
and reiterated. The emperor declined
to sign the document. The seals were
ultimately affixed to 1t. despite his
refusal. by Japanese or weak-kneed
ministers. But while Korean patriots
were kneeling in front of the palace
in the bitter cold Of a frosty Novem-
ber night. making the national protest.
the powers were informed that Korea
naQ aRFG6u u ll6 lllCdouACo PlO-
posed, and the various legations were
accordingly withdrawn. The first
to withdraw was America. The Ko-
rean side of the argument had not been
heard. American residents of Seoul
assert that in his anxiety to bring
about peace between japan and Rus
sia. President Roosevelt made GER
tain promises to Japan, and that the
hasty withdrawal of our legation,
without awaiting fuller knowledge,
was the result. To put 1t mild
ly, Americans in Korea boiled
with rage. They continue to do so to-
day when mention of the incident Is
made.
The emperor, under close espionage
and still a virtual prisoner in his pal
ace, still hoped and intrigued against
fate. When The Hague conference
was sitting in 1907 he secretly supplied
representatives with money and dis
patched them to The Hague to ask
for the intervention of the powers
They were denied a hearing. This ar
forded Japan her desired opportunity
to he rid of him. She demanded that
he abdicate in favor OF the crown prince
or sign the suzerainty agreement Sc
cured by coercion, and without ms
seal. I'm 1905; proceed to Toxic to apol-
opize and appoint a regent The re-
suit was the appointment of the crown
nrince as regent Within FEW days
Marquis Ito had the Korean prime
minister, acting for the regent, TO sign
an agreement under which every pow
er % Of the Korean government, even IN
internal affairs, was extinguished.
Then followed the disbanding OF the
Korean army under an insulting proc
Iaoation. Japan's next move was TO
crown a puppet emperor ana separdt9
the father from his son. The hatloiial
existence Of Korea was snuffed out.
Tomorrow--The Fate Of Kores. V; An ori-
entail Insurrectlon.