The New York herald., 1921-10-14

propaganda. / was informed by one
Of the most ardent of the Corean
Democrats" last night that, with few
exceptions, there is none so humble or
impoverished among the illiterate and
impractical citizens Of the Hermit
Kingdom who does not contribute his
mite toward the ultimate emancipation
or his country.
Some OF the stories told me by the
Corean patriots at Seoul (called Keijo
by the Japanese), Tailsyu. the seat OF
the Government Of north Keijo, and
Jinsen justified{t the belief that the Sc
cret police system of Russia was not
any more complete and vigilant than
that maIarained by Japan in Corea.
So comyAete Is this espionage that the
iea6sSs in the democratic movement
are compelled to exercise the greatest
!, caution in commenting upon the Japa-
ne~e administration OF their country.
Every Corean seems to know or at
least thinks, that he is being watched,
and the Japanese Government makes
no effort to destroy the illusion Qf
such it be) for very obvious and salu-
tary reasons. There is, in fact, an
with which the Japanese spies, few
of whom are native Coreans-regarded
as moral lepers by their fellows-go
about their business. One of the
drollest tales l have ever listened to
was told me by Corean Democrat"
at Taiku the other night. Freely
rendered It wen. this way:
"A Corean scum who take japanese
Cash. he come to me and say. I got
to watch you I ask him why he got
20 watch me. He say Japanese pay
him go with me everywhere. make
name OF people talk with, hear what
got say to peoples and peoples got
say 10 me. Then he go and tell Japa-
nese and get more japanese Cash. ]
tell him no he can't come with me.
He cay II he don't. he make his grand
mother. who is very old and therefore
very wise, tell something's her honored
ancestors say about one my honored
ancestors who is dead two hundred
years and that be Disgrace and my
family have much trouble. no want
my ancestor disgrace and l let he go
with me, but don't talk any Corean
about nothing. I spend much time in
Temple praying with my ancestors and
Corean scum he no get Japanese Cash.
spit at him. And the voracious
chronicler OF the event comprehend
ingly illustrated his contempt oy do
ing so.
They are a gentle, friendly lot these
Coreans, both men and women. and
despite their incapacity for tho or
ganized processes OF government--or
their dlsinclination to adopt them
are intense patriots. While the illite-
racy OF the country Is very great.
probably approximating 20 per cent.
OF the population. estimated at from
100000 10 21,ooO.ooo, the more pro-
gressive or better class Of them are
very well educated, with a culture
that dlscountenances the vulgarities
with which the Japanese are credited.
Tney are deeply learned in the phi
losophies Of the Orient, most devout
IN their observance OF the teachings
OF Confucius and of Chinese Buddha.
yet they absolutely reject the Jap
anese brand, as is shown by the off,
cial Japanese figures which were sent
me by Baron Saito. the Japanese Mill
tary General OF Corea.
These figures show that there are
approximately $4,000 Japanese In
Corea who maintain 35i Shinto and
Japanese Buddhist temples with
total membership OF 16s.454. Only
5,953 Coreans worship In the Shinto
temples and 1895 in the Japanese
Buddhist temples. while $4,000 Co
reans worship in the Corean Buddhist
temple. These figures embrace only
the larger centres.
Statistics furnished me by the Jap
anese Governor give the total Of Co
rean and Japanese converts worship
ping in tho Christian churches as