The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-16
THE KOREAN REPUBLIC
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKiN

Washington. d. c.. June 16.--Aftei
seven years of Imprisonment and
torture, DR.. Syngman Rhee. repre-
sentative in Washington Of the Ko-
rean revolutionists, has been elected
president Of the Korean provisional
republic.
OF all the political upheavals which
have shaken the world in the last
four years, there has been none
stranger than that which made DIR.
Rhee president of the new Oriental
republic. For the Koreans have
fought their revolution without any
weapons other than their voices and
The courage to die. sfhey had to
print the proclamations of their new
republic in secret and when they
elected DR.. Rhee president they could
not even cable the chief executive
was smuggled out of the country by
a foreigner and brought across the
ocean concealed In the head of doll.
Although the revolution has been
without arms or violence on the part
of the Koreans, they claim that SO.-
600 of them have been arrested, and
10000 killed by the Japanese.N
When crowds Of Koreans gather
in the streets singing and shouting
Long Live Korea" Japanese SOL
diers are rushed to the scene to break
UP the meeting. The revolutionists
are dispersed by bayonet attacks and
some are always killed or wounded,
but the next day there Is another
mass meeting of Koreans proclaining
their independence.
Reports too numerous and too well
verified to be discountenanced tell of
whole villages burned and pillaged
and the inhabitants tortured by Jap
anese soldiery in attempts to brighten
the Koreans into submission or to
force them to tell names of revolu-
tionary leaders.
In three months of passive resist
ance, the revolutionists have issued
a declaration of independence,
drafted a constitution, and now they
announce the election of the presi-
dent of their provisional republic.
DR.. Rhees career would indicate
that he is peculiarly suited to be a
leader Of his people. AS a boy he was
educated in Korea to be a govern
ment official. He published the first
Korean daily paper which was in
dependent In its policy and dared to
denounce both japanese and Russian
influences in Korea. The paper be-
came so popular that Rhee was i'm
prisoned as dangerous to the gov
eminent.
For seven years he was in prison,
and for months he wore the wooden
collar of torture. During his prison
term he became a Christian. He had
been sentenced for life, but after the
Russo Japanese war was over he was
and came to America where
he received B. A. degree from
George Washington university, an M.
A. degree at Harvard, and Phi. d.
at Princeton. Since then he has
been a teacher. missionary and
statesman.
The story of Japan's hold on Ko-
rea was told by DR.. Rhee to the
writer as follows: I'm 1904, Korea
opened her territory to Japan In or
der to aid Japan in her war against
the common enemy, Russia. After
the war Japan was bound by treaty
to evacuate Korea, but she disre-
yarded the treaty and her soldiers
from Siberia, overran Ko-
rea.
1.-The war had not gained for Japan
he territory in Manchuria ana ST.
IBERIA that she so desired, and she
demanded Korea as the fruit Of vic
.ory. She thought the country would
serve as an outlet for her surplus
population and also as gateway into
Manchuria.
Japan told America that Korea sur
willingly, and as the Korean
emperor was a prisoner and could send
10 message outside of the country. this
vas the worlds impression OF the sit
iation.
F"Since then Korea has been under
Japanese military rule.f For 1900 years
Korea had governed herself, during
which time she built up one of the most
civilizations the world has
sver known. A Korean invented print
ng and movable type 100 years before
gutenberg the German inventor Of the
printing press, was born. Korea also
invented a phonetic alphabet. and was
he first nation to build a suspension
'ridge. She taught Japan the art OF
making the so-much admired Japa-
lese' porcelain, and made other valua-
lie contributions to Japanese civiliza-
ion.
Now Japan is trying TO denational-
ze Korea. 1t is forbidden to teach Ko-
can history or geography in the Korean
chools, or even to speak the native
language. A student was imprisoned
hree months and fined $500 for singing
he Korean national anthem. Japanese
olidays are the only ones observed, and
Koreans must celebrate them.
"A measure which caused excitement
ot only in Korea, but In America and
Their countries as we'll, was the edict
ssued about Ave years ago by Japan |