Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1910-10-22

M peninsula is now part vi
Japan and it's 100000 peo-
pie are subjects OF the
Mikado. The Land Of the Rising Sun
has swallowed up the Hermit King
dom. The Korean language must
give way to that of the Jap and in
time the little brown islanders will
swarm as thickly upon this captured
part of the mainland as upon any Of
the many islands which until recently
comprised the Japanese empire. The
empty formality OF the annexation
was gone through with-the climax
Of two bloody wars and Of many
years of plotting. intrigue and crafty
oriental diplomacy.
Perhaps Korea will be the better
off. Following the tragic extinction
Of an independent government and the
submersion Of people into the larger
mass of a conquering nation there
may come greater progress, more real
freedom. Surely Texas, California
and the other American states which
formerly were part of Mexico, are in.
comparably better OFF than they
would have been had the City Of
Mexico remained the seat of their ma
tional government. The Boer states
of South Africa perished as such amid
the tragedy of war, but today the
people are more prosperous and in
reality more free under the British
government in which they participate
than ever they could have been as
citizens of the Boer republics. So it
may be with Korea end the Koreans.
Japan promises much If she keeps
her promises TIE tilae will come when
Koreans will be as loyal to the
Mikado as the Canadian French row
are to the throne Of Er gland But
Japan has not always Kept her prom
ises. Solemnly she agreed to respect
tho sovereignty Of the Hermit King
dom. She broke the promise when
the time came which permitted her
to do so without embroiling herself
in war with European powers. Now
she promises to the Koreans all the
privileges and benefits enjoyed by her
own people and full participation in
government. She may respect this
sacred obligation. She may reduce
the native population to poverty ard
ultimately wipe them out by forcing
them into ab,nct poverty through
seizure of their lands and barring
them from the more profitable trades
and professions. Perhaps the trag-
edy has passed only IFS initial stages
Japan has planned for this climax
for many years, To gain her ends
she fought China and dared to meas
IRE arms with the mighty empire of
TIE czar, exrending during the long
struggle hundreds of millions of dol
lars and the lives Of countless thou.
sancs Of her subjects, Relentlessly
the acts of the drama have evolved
To Japan the peninsula seemed al
most a necessity. The undeveloped
mineral lends meant wealth; the STRAIT
egic position of Korea meant great
er security to the Mikado's empire
China claimed a sort of suzerainty
over Korea. Her claims must be
wiped out. A pretext was sought
and easily found. the war of 1894
vas fought China was defeated and
Korea's absolute independence of the
Dragon was proclaimed But Russia
was seeking eastern expansion and
Japan readily saw that before long
Russian influence in Korea would be
as great or greater than had been
that Of China Another pretext. An.
other war. The Bear was whipped
in 1904 and 1905 as thoroughly as
the Dragon had beer ~7hipped ten
years before.
Meantime, Japan had forced the
emperor of Korea to sign an agree
ment giving to the Mikado temporary
military control in that country, un.
der the pretext that this was neces.
sary in order to keep the Russians
out and to insure horea's independ.
ence. OF course, after the war,
Japan was to get out and leave the
Korean emperor once more in con-
troll. But excuses were found for
remaining and under the iron hand
of Marquis Ito, afterward prince, the
Korean government was absolutely
subjugated to the will of the Japs
Naturally the Korean emperor. Ii.
Heui, protested. He was arrested and
forced to abdicate in favor of his
son, Li-Syck, mere boy who forth
with was carried to Tokyo to be
educated" amid Japanese surround
ings. BY degrees the emperor. first
the father and then the son, was
forced to sign DEGREES increasing the
Of Japan In the Korean