Evening journal., 1914-05-21
KOREA BUILT SEA
FIGHTERS YEARS AGO.
Hermit Kingdom Had Fleet
$50 Years Before Monitor
Was Thought OF
COUNTRY HAS HAD
RAPID DOWNFALL

WASHINGTON, May 2l.--George
Kennan, explorer and lecturer, re-
Gently communicated 10 the National
Geographical Society, at Washington
ID. C.. the information that Korea built
steel-clad battleships $50 years before
the Monitor and Merrimao were ere
ated. The Hermit Kingdom was us
ing movable type and astronomical
bombs from the twelfth to the tif-
1eenth centuries, and employing ex-
plosive bombs long before they were
known IN Europe. He points out that
The famous Japanese Satsuma pot
terry was made originally by Korean
workmen who were imported into the
Mikado's kingdom.
These facts are cited by Mr.. Ken
nan TO show the terrific downfall ex-
perienced by Korea. He traces her
course from the pinnacle Of ciyiliz-
alton to the depths of degeneracy,
and expresses great hopes for her fu-
ture, under the guidance Of japan,
while Korea was sinking, Japan
was rising, until the island kingdom,
All by her own efforts, became such a
world power as to defeat great Eu-
ropean nation he says. "The Kor-
cans were a mainland people They
had taught the medieval Japs all the
civilization they had. But, by reason
Of their geographical location, they
were invaded by vastly inferior peo-
pies. the Mongals and the Manchus.
Korea was influenced to establish de-
monology as her religion, her blood
was weakened by being crossed with
that OF people vastly beneath her and
her spirit was broken by the indigni-
lies heaped upon her by the more
powerful invaders She was under
the influence of China, which adopted
the semi-sacred books OF Confucius
as its national system of education
1000 years ago. The knowledge of
his works and the ability to recite
long chapters of his writings were
made the chief requirement for the
aspirant for bonors. AS a result, the
study OF the sciences, mathematics,
and the phenomena Of nature was
dropped: the memory was over-cul-
tivated and the reasoning power stult-
ifled The habits of the Koreans be-
came uncleanly; they grew indiffer-
ent to dirt aud smells.
FJapan on the other hand. was
never invaded in her history; her
blood was never intermingled and her
stock was allowed TO remain pure.
her national character was developed
without outside influence. The Shinto
religion OF the empire has as its car
dinal principles purity OF body, spirit
and environment. Japan was not ex-
posed 10 the scourges and plaques
that Korea's dirt and filth brought
upon her. The feudal system sprang
UP ia Japan, causing authority 70 be
-rcspeuted and discipline to be de-
Veloped
In 1910. Japan annexed Korea.
Prior 70 that time, as many deaths
as 500 a day had occurred In the CITY
Of Seoul alone; shortly afterwards
not as many people died from the
plague In the whole kingdom in one
year. Japan forcibly vaccinated g.
100000 people in one year. One hun-
dred and sixty-eight courts were es-
fabiished, giving authority to l3.OOO
gendarmes. Hundreds of miles of
roads are being built. Afforestation
on an extensive scale is being carried
on TO encourage the silk worm in
uustry lS,000,O0O mulberry tree seed
1ngs we're set out in one year. state
and private banks were established
the postal savings system was in
stalled and one in every six families
mas a savings account The people
a. first suspicious, have learned that
they viii get their money back when
ever they ask for IT, In the first wear
after the Japanese occupancy. the rice
crop was doubled, and the wheat and
barley crops grew from $4,000. 600 to
5b,0OVOO0 bushels. The Japanese
nave built a model village In every
province and are encouraging the peo-
PIE 70 build similar villages through.
out the kingdom"
Mr. kennan points out that Korea
mas the same geographical ADVANTAGES
as a great portion Of the eastern mari
of the United States. "Sbe II nst
as well fitted To be the home of
health, prosperous and happy neo-
pie" he says. "She is located simiI-
arly to the territory bordering on the
Atlantic coast from Portland. Me ~
charleston, $. G., and extending n.
ward to Albany, N. ", Harrisburg
"a. Lynchburg, Va, and Columbia