The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1914-07-15
PIONEERS IN Work
Korea Built Steel Clad Warship
Over 800 Years Ago.
George KEENAN, Tells How Korean Con.
structed Battieships $50 Years Be-
fore the Monitor and Merri.
mac Were Created.


plOrer and lecturer. recently communi-
Gated to the National Geographic So
ciety. at Washington the information
that Korea built steelclad battleships
$50 years before the Monitor and Mer-
rimac were created. 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 import
ed 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 her pinnacle of civiliza-
ton to the depths of degeneracy and
expresses great hopes for her future.
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 Euro
pean nation" he says. The Koreans
were mainland people. They had
taught the medieval Japs all the civil
ization they had. But, by reason of
their geographical location, they were
invaded by vastly inferior peoples, the
Mongols and the Manchus. Korea was
influenced to establish demonology as
her religion. her blood was weakened
by being crossed with that of people
vastly beneath her and her spirit was
broken by the indignities heaped upon
her by the more powerful invaders.
She was under the influence of China.
of Confucius as its national system of
education 1000 years ago. The knowl-
edge of his works and the ability to re-
cite long chapters of his writings were
made the chief requirement of the as
pirant for honors. As a result, the
study of the sciences, mathematics and
the phenomena of nature was dropped !:
the memory was over-cultivated and
the reasoning power stultified The
habits of the Koreans became unclean-
ly; they grew Indifferent to dirt and
smells.
Japan, 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 with,
out influence. The Shinto religion of
the empire has as its cardinal prin-
ciples purity of blood. spirit and en-.
vironment. Japan was not exposed to
the scourges and plaques that Koreas
dirt and filth brought upon her The
feudal system sprang up in Japan
causing authority to be respected and
discipline to be developed.
in 1910. Japan annexed Korea
800 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 100000 people in
one year. One hundred and sixty-eight
courts were established. giving author,
ity to $4,000 gendarmes. Hundreds OF
miles of roads are being built. Affor-
estation on an extensive scale is being
carried on. To encourage the silk
tree seedlings were set out in one
year. State and private banks were
established. The postal savings sys
TEN 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
whenever 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 14,000.00D
to 36,000.000 bushels. The Japanese
have built a model village in every
province and are encouraging people
to build similar villages throughout
the kingdom"
Mr.. KEENAN, points out that Korea
has the same geographical advantages
as a great portion of the eastern part
of the United States. she is just as
we'll fitted to be the home of healthy,
prosperous and happy people" he says
"She is located similarly to the terri
tory bordering ON the Atlantic coast
from Portland. Me-. to Charleston. g.
c., and extending inward to Albany
N. Y, Harrisburg. Pa. Lynchburg. Va,
and Columbia. s. c."