Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-20

| Oppert, who said that the plan was to
secure the relics from the tombs and
to force the Koreans ito guarantee the
safety of Christian converts"
When the news of the disastrous end
of the General Sherman expedition
reached Washington Admiral Shufeldt.
commander of the u. S. S. Wachusett.
was ordered to Korea to demand re-
dress. He reached Seoul in the dead
of winter, sent letter to the king.
awaited reply until it was apparent
that the ship would be frozen in and
would have to remain upon an inhos-
pitable shore without sufficient pro-
visions. Later Admiral Rodgers was
dispatched to Korea and attacked the
defenses at the mouth of Han river as
an act of reprisal. At this time fac
tional politics had split the Koreans
into two parties, the mobiles being ar
rayed on one side and the king on the
other, each party having adherents
among the common people, and the adj
vance of Russia, seeking an outlet to
the sea south of ice-bound ports. had
frightened the hermit kingdom no little.
This period marked the beginning of
the inevitable end of Korea as q
nation.
Japan had her eye upon Korea. Rus
sia wanted the country. China, whose
substance
and who had admitted her inability to
control Korea, presented to neither
power material obstacles to their de-
signs. In 1876 Japanese fleet under
General Kuroda anchored at Chemul-
po and announced that Japan would
make treaty or make war to open
Korea. treaty was made opening
various ports and allowing Japan to
establish settlement at Fusan. The
Va fTrvfaf1 1lrTrV Iol,4
der the title of Great Elder" the king
having reached his majority, was as
much opposed to the Japanese as he
had been to the white invaders. He
was still fighting the policy of admit
ting foreigners when the treaty with
the United States was made in 1882
by Admiral Shufeldt. He was behind
the movement that resulted in the
mobbing of the palace and an effort to
murder the king and queen who ad-
vocated the making of treaties with
Japan and western nations. China
took the situation in hand, with an
army, executed mob leaders to the
number of 100 invited the Taiwonkun
to banquet, seized him and sent him
as a prisoner to Poatingfu.
The king escaped from the palace
while his ministers were being mur-
dered and the queen, disguised as
maid, was carried away by a coolie.
The king then issued a proclamation
that is of interest in the light of de-
velopments that have followed. He
asserted that the policy of exclusion,
followed by his dynasty for five CEN
turtles, was a mistaken one. Western
nations had advanced in arts, inven-
ton, commerce and civilization. They
had even equaled China in glory and
she had treated with them according
ly. Japan had opened her ports. He
proposed to make treaties with Amer
lea and Germany and England, regard
less of censure heaped upon him.
Stupid scholars, he said, were blind if
they did not realize that Korea could
not continue to drive away foreigners
and become the enemy of all nations
and yet hope to survive. Foreign re-
ligions he considered wicked and SEN
sual" and unworthy of adoption, but
he wanted guns, steamships, physi-
clans and schools. The stone tablet of
the Taiwonkun he ordered removed.
The treaty with America is one that
has been the subject of much discuss
sion since Japan has destroyed Korean
independence. 1t provided for COM
mercial intercourse and eXtra-terri-
torial rights for Americans. A clause
provided that "if other powers deal
unjustly with either government the
other will exert it's good offices to
bring about an amicable arrangement,
thus showing her friendly feelings
The United States is charged with
having violated this treaty when it re-
fused to save Korea from the Jap
anese. The American government held
that the reciprocal clause did not bind
this nation to go to war for Korea.
But that does not prevent the Koreans.
who know Americans better than any
other foreigners and who have the
sympathy of Americans here, from be-
lieving that the United States violated
it's treaty and failed to live up to its
obligations.
About the time these treaties were
being made, Ii Hung Chang made his
famous prophecy. 1t was one that did
credit to his sagacity and ranks in
modern Korean history with that other
famous prophecy of the old Taiwon-
kun. Ii Hung Chang wrote to Kor-
can government ministers: "Of recent
years Japan has adopted western GUS
TOMS Her debts are growing. She is
looking about for some convenient ac-
uuisitlon which may recoup her. Tho
fate of Loo Choo should be warning
to Korea as we'll as a regret to emma.
By making alliances with white pow
ers Korea can best Illustrate the plans
of Japan for territorial aggrandize-
ment across the Korean straits.
The prophecies of the TatWonkun
and of Ii Hung Chang have been full
filed Korea is vessal state and the
fate of it's people rests with the will OF
Japan.
Tomorrow-Tne Fate of Korea: I1I-Murder
and Diplomacy