Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-21
Plea for Korean independence


IN mo Editor of the Ercning Public L'dg"r:
Sir-Mr. James Price in an address be =
f,ra the pbilomusian Club yesterday. mahe
the statement that Korea is not quite ready
for ;ndepepdence" He pointed out that
owing TO JspaIese supervision. Korean edh
cation has not been up to the mark that
Korean students are not permitted |" s'"nE
such subjects as history. law ana economies
in Jauauese schools. and that Koreans are
not permitted to come to America ior 'n'i'
.dnoa,ion Therefore, according to Mr..
Price Korea as nation is not quite ready
for independence. A.
The statements are very misleading to tn"
casual reader A careful perusal SHOWS 'h'A
are Inconsistent.
Docs Mr. Price know that the Koreans
under japanese suppression. whlrn h' "'''i's
does not permit higher education among
Koreans cannot ever reach such FN''
no he terms ready for independents"
Karen has n distinct history and national
;tv of her own, and the average Korean can
.nmnate with the average japanese IN any
snbere of human activity. provided lie Is
.;vep an equal opportunity with the Japan .
Goo Rut this is what he is denied III ms
native land. and | may add, that equa'hF
of opportunity is the essence OF Aher''a"
democracy. which is the very thlng the
Korean people are fighting for
~ a man like Mr.. Price does not believe
,ba, Koreans ought to have this precious
treosure of western civilization VIZ the
equality of opportunity. then he Is not SIN =
cerc in his belief in American democracy.
As a matter of fact. the educational lever
80 ths Korean has been lowered tremendously
since the japanese occupation "l Nofr"'
Thtough the so-called educational reguIa-
l. tbn
ese authorities have the abs"Iut" control
~ tho Korean school system, and thereby
JoIibarstely oppose higher education among
tha Koreans, who would rejoice in having
tho opportunity of taking the higher studies
in the East and also in America.
,rhe only way. and deep reading OF Mr..
pr;,.'s words emphasizes that the only way,
il to grant Koreans their independence. so
,h,, they may prove their capacity for indie
nardorre TO deny them this opportunity on
tbe ossumption that they are not ready for
II il like telling young man that he must
cat education. but that he should never read
n hook or hear lecture OF educational
value.
,rho Japanpse received their civilization
frou, Korea. and the Korean people are the
orIv ueople in the East open minded enough
,o receive the doctrines OF Christianity
,rhov h.He Incorporated these into their
rnliticol ideas. Il fact which has been so
wall demonstrated by the proceedings OF the
nreseut congress in Philadelphia, and the
renorts of missionaries abroad. AS Chris
tianity is regarded in America as embracing
tha host and highest in education, this is
the supreme proof that Koreans are capable
of self government, even surprising the
japanese.
shall appreciate your courtesy in pub
fishing this letter
Thanking you for the splending assist
ance you gave through your columns I" our
congress, beg to remain. respectfully yours,
HENRY CHUNG.
Delagate to the Peace Conference at Paris
of the Provisional Government of the
Republic of Korea.
April Il.