The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-23
JAPAN ABSORBING KOREA.

The dispatches yesterday morning
carried what has long been expected.
the announcement Of the absorption of
Korea by Jan>n. This is the inevitable
result of the war between Japan and
Russia, and it secures Japan. actually as
well as nominally, from all interference
IN the affairs of the =" Hermit King.
dom, - The ruling dynasty of korea will
be deposed as reigning dynasty, but
It's members will be among the nobility
OF that ancient land and of Japan. The
steps toward assimilation (not necessar~
lily benevolent) have been gradually 90
ing on ever since the japanese occu-
pancY. BY the treaty of Portsmouth,
Japan was given a free hand in Korea,
and has availed itself to an unlimited
degree of the rights thus obtained and
acknowledged. There has been right
along recognition of Japan s exclu-
slve rights in Korea, these rights not
being subject to any interference No
doubt they gradually took on the phase
of settled policy so that there is Moth
ing really that Japan may wish to do III
Korea that she has not the right to do,
subject of course TO the laws of civil.
izatIon and of modern enlightenment.
But her dominance is supreme, and now
she has availed herself Of it. The sug-
gestlons that are carried from time to
time that the United States, by reason
of the open door policy proclaimed in
trade, and England and Germany on
the same basis, might have some right
to be consulted or to negative Japan IS
encroachments in Korea-all these have
no substantial foundation.
Korea has population estimated all
the way from eight million to fifteen
million. Perhaps the twelve million
estimated in the dispatches is as near
right as any figures can be in the abb
sence of definite information. The area
of that ancient empire is practically
about the same as that of Utah, there
being very little difference in fact, al
though doubtless Japan has been able
to stretch the bounds little at the ex-
pense Of Manchuria. A substantial
addition like this to the area of Japan
is great desideratum to that island
empire and the incorporation of twelve
million people among the Mikado S sub
iects is certainly an achievement.
The fact appears to be that the Kor-
cans are hopeless in the matter of self |
government. Corruption. inefliciency, |
and arbitrary oppression even to the
extent of lifetaking and complete rob-
bing of any subject of his property,
appears to have been the rule, without |
The least compunctiou or reluctance un-
der the old regime IN Korea 1t Is
regime that the people are used 10. and |
they resent bitterly the more enlight.
ened policy of Japan even though that
policy is decidedly to the advantage Of
The common citizen as compared with
The old rule; but Japan has such sure
grip that resistance will be in vain We
Judge. however, since Japan has not
pushed her rights up TO this time. that the
Japanese rulers In Korea considered that
,he time has come when the full right
IF absorption should be exercised, and
Il VIII be In vain for any other power
to protest In fact, it is practically sure
hat Japan has secured the concurrence
Of all the powers in the least likely to
be interested or to Interfere, before
taking this step of annexation and alb.
'orption, which so greatly strengthens
Japan and must also immeasurably
benefit the Koreans themselves.