Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-01


and of mankind generally.
Much was said by Japanese statesmen
and apologists seeking the sympathy OF
the Anglo-Saxon peoples just before the
outbreak of the war with Russia about
Korea's being the arrow pointing at the
heart of Japan" The Japanese did not
begin to sense the menace of this arrow
until the rapacity OF the western powers
made all the Asiatic coast from Canton
to Vladivostok the theater of International
rivalry. The arrow first seemed to be
strung to the bow when China, which had
acquired suzerainty over Korea with the
weakening OF the old kingdom, began to
assert its sovereignty greatly to the detriA
ment of japan. The war OF 1894 followed.
After that came the humiliation of China
by the treaty of Shimonogeki and the
declaration Of Korean Independence by the
Korean king. who assumed at the same
time at the suggestion OF the Japanese the
title of emperor. as
In october, 1906 Korea felt the first sting
OF the lash of japan. Queen Min, a force
full woman who had taken a leading part
in the blind palace politics. played By
the emperor with Russia and Japan, threat
ened to throw all her influence into the
lap of an astute Russian minister who was
already playing the game which later led
to the armed clash between his country
and Japan. With the connivance of Miura,
the Japanese minister at the court of Seoul,
a band of ruffians partly native and partly
Japanese, stormed the bedchamber OF the
queen one night and murdered her. Her
body was burned on a hastily constructed
funeral pyre, and when the emperor minis
ters searched the ashes the next morning
they could find no remains of his majesty's
consort except some bones of little
finger. The terrified emperor fled to the
Russian legation for protection, and later
q magnificent state funeral was held over
the finger bones OF the queen.
That was but the beginning of the long
and tortuous course Of diplomatic intrigue,
the denouement of which came when Japan
flew at the throat Of the Russian bear
The pitiful shadow Of an emperor at the
head OF mere semblance of government
"a government y-combed with corrip-
ton and bnghted by ages of despOusm--
was with his country the bone Of con-
tention between Russia and Japan. Through
no fault OF Its own, except its strategic
position In the new theater of sctvities In
the far east, Korea became the prize OF
war, the hooters had to fight it out be-
tween themselves to decide which one
would have the pickings
The first of Japans recent series OF
treaties with Korea, each one processing
protection and independence even while
taking away one more prop of sovereignty
and autonomy, came on February q, 1905,
fortnight after the landing of Japanese
troops at Chemulpo and within a few days
after the opening of hostillties with Russia.
In protocol signed by representatives OF
the two oriental emperors Japan pledged
itself solemnly to insure the safety and re-
pose of the reigning family OF Korea and
guaranteed the independence and territorial
integrity OF the Hermit nation; ali In re-
turn for the simple privilege OF being AL
lowed to march troops into the country and
drive the Russians out OF its northern bor-
ders.
| No foreign critic OF Japan's actions in
Korea during the two years Immediately
following the war with Russla--and there
have been some very bitter crtcs-hAs
even been able to lay the most fragrant
violations Of all right and justice directly
at the door OF the Toxic government. The
ministry in the Japanese capital seemed
content to send advisers and assistants to
prop up the Korean government. but with
carte blanche instructions. That all the ef-
forts of the Japanese in Korea seemed TO
be co-ordained Into a unanimous desire
to do as little for the weaker nation and as
much for the home government as possible
was mere coincidence In the official eyes
of Toxic.
The second prop that was knocked from
under the tottering throne OF Cho-Bun was
-
went to seoul in November OF 1906 after the
close Of the Russian war. The first thing
he did was TO give a garden party, one Of
the severely formal Japanese methods OF
opening pourpariers. Some Of the ministers
stin loyal to the country and 20 their
sovereign smeiled a mouse and refused to
attend the garden party. Then Marquis ito
the inscrutable Mohammed. went to the
mountain.
On the night Of November II solid blocks
of infantry and several battalions OF field
pieces under the command of General
Hasegawa moved down from the Japanese
semi military settlement on Nam-san hill
and surrounded the palace OF the. timorous
emperor. Then Ito and Hasegawa went In
and had conferences with the empetor's
ministers. II was a brutal stroke. when
the emperor finally refused to set his seal
on the treaty, which Ito had all ready, an
officer was sent TO the office Of the Inn
perial chamberlain and the vermilion stamp
OF royalty was rifled from it's strongbox
and set TO the INSTRUMENT This was the
treaty declaring Japans protectorate over
Korea and placing all KOrea's diplomatic
machinery in the hands OF Japan. The
limited States was one OF the first Of the
lpowers to recognise IL by the withdrawal
Inf its minister. The MarQuis Ito became