The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-06-25
FACTS ABOUT KOREA IS Still UNSOLVED|
Country Had lroncIads Three
Centuries Ago.

Hermit Kingdom; Anticipated Europe
in Use of Movable Type and Astro-
nonicai instruments-Declin
Due to Invasion.
George KEENAN,, explorer and lectur
er, recently communicated to the Ma
tional Geographic society the in
formation that Korea built steel-clad
battleships $50 years before the Mon
itor and Merrimac. The Hermit King
dom was using movable type and as
Economical instruments from the
twelfth to the fifteenth centuries and
employing explosive bombs long be-
fore they were known in Europe. He
points out that the famous. Japanese
! Satsuma pottery was made originally
by Korean workmen who were i'm
ported into the mikado's kingdom.
These facts are cited by Mr.. KEENAN,
to show the terrific downfall expert
enced by Korea. He traces it's
course from it's pinnacle of civiliza-
ton to the depths Of degeperacy, and
expresses great hopes for it's future
under the guidance of Japan.
While Korea was sinking, Japan
was rising, until the island kingdom,
ell by it's own efforts, became such a
world power as to defeat a great Eu-
ropean nation" he says. THE Kor-
cans were mainland people. They
had taught the medieval Japs all the
civilization they had. But, by rea-
son Of their geographical location, they
were invaded by vastly inferior peo-
pie, the Mongols, and the Manchus.
Korea was influenced to establish
demonology as its religion, its blood
was weakened by being crossed with
that of people vastly beneath it and
it's spirit was broken by the indigni-
ties heaped upon it by the more pow
erful invaders. 1t was under the in
fiuence of China, which adopted the
semi-sacred books of Confucius as
it's 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 of the aspir-
ant for honors.
las a result, the only study of the
sciences, mathematics and the phe-
nomena of nature was dropped; the
memory was overcultivated and the
reasoning power stultified. The hab-
&c of thn m
ly; they grew Indifferent to dirt and
smells.
Japan, on the other hand, was
never invaded in it's history; its blood
was never intermingled and its stock
was allowed to remain pure. It's ma
tional character was developed with
out outside influence The Shinto re-
ligion of the expire has as its cardi-
nal principles purity of body, spirit
and environment. Japan was not ex-
posed to the scourges and plaques
that Korea's dirt and filth brought
upon it. The feudal system sprang up
In Japan, causing authority to be re-
spected and discipline to be devel-
oped
In 1910 Japan annexed Korea. Prior
| to that time as many deaths as 900 a
day had occurred in Seoul alone;
! shortly afterward not as many people
died from the plague in the whole
kingdom in one year Japan forcibly
vaccinated 100000 people in one
year. Courts were established, Civ
ing authoritv TO $4,000 gendarmes.
Hundreds of miles of roads are being
built. Affofestation on an extensive
scale is being carried on. To en-
courage the silkworm industry 49,
100000 mulberry tree seedlings were
set out in one year.
state and private banks were es-
tablished The postal system was
installed and one in every six families
has a savings account. The people,
at first suspicious, have learned that
they will get their money back when
ever they ask for it. In the first
year after the Japanese occupancy the
rice crop was doubled and the wheat
and barley crops grew from 10000
600 to 36,000,000 bushels. The Jap
anese have built model village in
every province, and are encouraging
the people to build similar villages
throughout the kingdom"
Mr. KEENAN, points out that Korea
has the same geographical advan-
tages as a great part of the eastern
part of the United States. 1T is just
as well fitted to be the home of
healthy, prosperous and happy peo-
ple," he says. 'It is located similar
ly to the territory bordering on the
Atlantic coast, from Portland Me-,
to Charleston, S. c., and extends in
ward to Albany, ~ Y; Harrisburg,
Pa; Lynchburg, Va, and Columbia,
S. c.
A Century Ago.
OpQ hundred wears ago +ho british