The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-28
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
Further nemarsks ~ Ne Cssrse nsgare
Ing the Csrcan CsMsplracy Case.

letter in THE Sun Of February Is entitled
THE Foreign Service OF tho Associated
Press has been criticised on the score
that II does not give the background OF
the ''Corean Conspiracy Case compre-
hensively enough to demonstrate clearly
the treasonableness Of the Associated
Press and the United States diplomatic
service.
To do this 1t 10 necessary to consider
the East outside Of japan. We must
survey the territory a. an area OF vast
population. ignorant. filthy. often dis
eased suffering through poverty and con-
tinuous pestilence: a population OF numb
Intelligence, creating moral torpor and
physical indifference. Penetrating this
unfortunate mass several influences In
Chief OF these has been the United States
Government In the Philippines which by
being an example republic within some
OF despotism has introduced a factor In
the Orient which Is thawlng Its frosen
intelligence and leading It toward a plane
where is peril will disappear.
The revolutionary influence In the
north OF Asia has been the Christian
movement In Corea directed to q con-
siderable extent by United States mis-
sionaries. Out OF a total Corean popuia-
| tion approximating 5000. 900 upward Of
100000 have embraced Christianity. This
Means not only tperhaps not so much) q
change OF religion but a general cleaning
UP and the raising OF different practical
standards
Christian missionaries invariably recoil
from Oriental politics. Nevertheless as
Christianity Ia fundamentally opposed to
despotism Corea has furnished tho curious
spectacle OF a religious democracy -four
ishing on the soil OF despotlsm.
What In more natural than that a
despotic Government should view such a
development with uneasiness? Further
River bridge has given to the Japanese
Government n railway ten hours from
Japan. completed to Mukden. where con-
nection may be made with the Chinese
Imperial Railway to Pekin. The stra-
tesic advantage OF this to Japan cannot
be overestimated. Yet here in the ac-
qured territory OF n despotc Government.
within the region Of accomplished strata
gem. existed n growing force opposed In
principle TO this programme OF despotism.
To the eye OF n watchful Government this
, Corean Christian propaganda 5000
strong conveyed the impressiveness which
is never alenated from the victories OF
peace. II seemed to possess the elements
OF political antagonism. Ihe $1,000 ap-
peared an army awaiting the progress
and reinforcement OF that other numeri-
cally more powerful influence from the
south which had its beginnings In the
Philippines. The outposts OF the last
stronghold OF despot!sm In the East
seemed In danger The Government ap-
parently was being undermined
Then came the "Corean Conspiracy
Case
The japanese authorities alleged the
existence OF conspiracy among Chris
tians. involving missionaries. to assassi-
nate the Governor-GeneralC orean Chris
tians In great numbers were arrested and
tortured until they confessed to whatever
the authorities required. A reign of
terror was launched amid the congresa-
| tons OF the Christian Church In Corea.
Chronologically the case divides itself
into periods covering the arrests" the
preliminary trial." 1.-The fortunes" "the
trial proper" IA time OF foreign publicity
toutside of the Associated Press channels)
and Tin response TO the foreign publicity
"a retrial' at which II was established that
no conspiracy had existed.
The trial In some measure became TO
japan what the Dreyfus case had been
10 France. In It's most dramatic phase
IL reveals missionaries demanding that
they also should be placed on tria as
well as their communicates. II shows
the foreign press in the East led by the
Kobe Chronicle In a heroic struggle for
Justice. and It discloses the Associated
Press and the United States diplomatic
service In alarmed agitation burrowing
out OF sight.
| The Associated Press did not repor,
the case until the retrial when II sent
forward meagre accounts shorn Of all
significance. Had the Associated Press
reported II In the beginning II is doubtful
! II the case would have proceeded. Moth
ing 20 scatters conspirators as the pub
lication OF their plans, aside from which
there was no evidence save tortured con-
fessions. Publicity would have brought
this out and would also have given sup
port to the wing OF tho Japanese Gov
eminent which opposed the whole pro-
gramne.
I Had the case been thrown out OF court
in the beginning United States mission
aries would not have been forced to
appeal abroad for Justice. There would
not have been a near approach 70 an
International question with involved mis-
understandings and friction there would
have been no reason for the national
sensitiveness which inevitably followed.
But the Associated Press maintained
the silence OF the tomb The unofficial
protection which publicity would have
given to both the prisoners and their
clergy the Associated Press withheld.
The right OF American readers TO know
OF important events this press orYaniza-
/ ton ignored.
THE SUN deserves unqualified praise
! for its patriotic service.
HORACE T, ToMPRINs.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass, February 90