that had been left untried and that he was sure it would prove effective.
He promised to secure some of it and hurried away. Purchasing a turnip at
the corner grocery he cut it up fine, macerated it and dried it into a
powder. Late in the afternoon he returned to the official’s house and in
the presence of the family administered the potent drug. An instant later
the two horns were seen to recede slowly into the cranium of the patient
and the hoofs to change their form, and at last all evidence of the
bestial metamorphosis was wiped out. The official’s voice came back and
he joined with the rest of the family in heaping thanks upon Mr. Cho.
But if anyone supposes that his reward ended with mere thanks he will
make a grievous mistake. Honors poured in upon him, _peysil_ unlimited
and _kwansey_ without alloy.
YI CHONG-WON.
The Seoul-Fusan Railway.
The completion of this important line of communication is an event
of international importance, for it marks a definite period in the
construction of a through line that will connect Fusan with the whole
of Europe. The trip from Tokyo to London will then require but a few
hours of sea travel. The Korean Straits and the Straits of Dover are the
Eastern and Western sea barriers which separate the two Island Empires
from the great continent. To think that only a few miles of track require
to be laid before this stupendous piece of work is completed is almost
enough to take one’s breath away. A few years ago it was laughed at as
being the dream of a fanatic. Today it is an accomplished fact. The
dreams of yesterday are the realities of today.
The formal opening of this branch of the through line called for
appropriate ceremonies. No other one thing has done so much to strengthen
Japan’s hold upon the peninsula, and the way Japan has poured money into
Korea to complete it shows how confident she was of ultimate victory in
this present conflict. Of all known things capital is the most timid, and
the unreservedness with which money was handed out for this purpose is a
measure of Japan’s confidence in herself.
For weeks before the opening ceremonies took place the broad space
acquired by the railway for terminal facilities outside the South Gate of
Seoul was being prepared for the occasion. Enormous arches of evergreen
were erected, a score of temporary buildings of various kinds were put
up. The steep hill to the east was laid out with care and many forms of
curious and beautiful ornamentation were devised to please and interest
the guests of the occasion.
In honour of this occasion Prince Fushimi came from Japan to act as
chairman of the opening ceremony. He is the son of Prince Fushimi who has
lately been travelling in America. In preparation for his coming, the
city went through a species of Spring house-cleaning and all the main
thoroughfares were covered with a thick coating of fresh red sand.
On the momentous day a large company gathered about nine o’clock in the
morning. Special trains had been run from Fusan and Chemulpo and besides
the great number of Japanese and Korean officials there were upwards of
fifty Europeans and Americans present. Gathered under a spacious awning
the company had not long to wait before the exercises began. On the
platform, Prince Fushimi for Japan and Prince Eui Yang for Korea occupied
the places of honor. Various addresses were made in Japanese and in
Korean and the Prince declared the railway open. Hon. H. N. Allen made an
appropriate speech in English. It was partly reminiscent in character and
carried his hearers back to the time when even between Seoul and Chemulpo
there was nothing more than a bridle-path.
After the formal exercises were over the audience were treated to
excellent samples of Japanese histrionic art. Poems were acted in
character and though the words were lost upon some of the audience the
acting was fully appreciated.
About eleven o’clock an elaborate banquet was served in a long pavilion
where one thousand guests were seated. After this was concluded and the
toasts had been drunk the guests wandered about the extensive grounds
and listened to the excellent music discoursed by the Imperial Korean
Band, or examined the curious objects of interest which had been prepared
by the hosts. In one part of the grounds a company of jugglers drew the
attention of many of the guests and in another part trained Japanese
wrestlers were exhibiting their skill.
Late in the afternoon the guests dispersed, but only to return in the
evening and witness the fine display of fire-works, which closed with
several set pieces of great beauty.
Among the guests of the company was Mr. E. W. Frazar of Yokohama, the
head of Frazar and Co. who furnished the line with a large part of the
rails and the rolling stock. He is the son of Everett Frazar who was for
so many years the Consul-general for Korea in New York. He expressed
himself with great satisfaction over the fact that the Japanese had
adopted the American system throughout, in their Korean railways,
contrasting it with the heterogeneous system found in Japan itself.
The guests from Fusan were enthusiastic over the new 120 ton Baldwin
engines that are being put on the road and over the fact that soon
we shall see a nine-hour schedule between Fusan and Seoul. This will
be an average of thirty miles an hour including stops. The road bed,
the bridges, the culverts and tunnels are all of the most substantial
character and do great credit to the constructors.
It is asserted that the traffic on this road is already quite
considerable and that the Koreans are taking advantage of it very freely.
The influence of such an artery of traffic and travel cannot but be
immense. It will almost surely cause great changes in former methods, and
during the period of readjustment it may be that more or less hardship
may be caused. But this is incident to all great improvements and the
ultimate results must be highly beneficial to all such Koreans as have
energy and ability to take advantage of the opportunity.
When we think of the enormous appreciation of land values all along the
line we feel as if Koreans ought to inaugurate a campaign of education,
to make their countrymen aware of this enhancement of value and to urge
them to make the most of it rather than sell to the first bidder who
offers them a ten per cent rise upon the original value of the land. If
a bag of rice formerly cost nearly its full original value to get it to
market, while now it will cost only a few cents to do so, it is plain
that farm land has nearly if not quite doubled in value. But there are
other factors at work as well, which enhance the value of land, and
unless the Korean is apprised of this he is likely to sell for much less
than his land is worth.
Whatever sentimental notions one may have about the Koreans it is quite
certain that the Japanese have come here to stay and they come with
money, ready to buy liberally. One of the most important problems in
sight, therefore, is that of the future of those Koreans who elect to
sell their fields. They are not accustomed to handle large sums of money
and it looks as if there would be considerable danger of their suffering
loss. Koreans should be exhorted to hold on to their property at least
until they have clearly decided what to do next.
The Koreans will have to learn by hard experience just as the Japanese
themselves did between 1868 and 1880. The stories that are told of old
worn-out steam-ships sold to the Japanese at high figures in those days
would fill a small volume. The Korean must also learn by his failures. We
believe that in this school he will develop a fair degree of ability to
take care of himself. It will take time and there will be many unpleasant
experiences in the process, but it is certain that he is now “up against”
a genuine business proposition and unless he can bring to bear upon the
situation a keenness and an energy proportionate to that of the Japanese
he will go to the wall.
All we ask is that the Korean be given a fair chance. If he is given an
opportunity to obtain redress in case he is treated in an illegal manner
the rest may safely be left to his native genius. But what he surely
should receive from the Japanese is a “square deal.” If this is denied
him of course he will have nothing left but to succumb or rebel.
In spite of many cases of injustice which have been reported we still
believe that as soon as the war is over Japan will put forth strenuous
and successful efforts to govern the unruly element among her nationals
in Korea. She may proclaim a protectorate over the country and
temporarily impair its independence. This will be contrary to her express
promises but there will be no one to make a successful protest and it
may be that in time events will so shape themselves that Korea may again
be given an autonomous position. Meanwhile there are important lessons
of industry and thrift for the Korean to learn and upon his success in
learning them will depend in large part the recovery of his political
autonomy.
Editorial Comment.
The great event of the month has been the crowning victory of the
Japanese over the Russian fleet. The details of the fight are now at hand
and enough is known to demonstrate that the Russian fleet was a mere
man of straw, to be blown over by the first wind. When we think of the
tons of printers ink that have been expended upon a minute description
of every movement of this doomed armada from the time it left the Baltic
Sea until it was swept away like a mere cob-web by the Japanese navy
there seems to be a grim humor about the whole thing. It was a tragic
comedy! The thought of the doomed men who went down in this forlorn hope
is inexpressibly sad. They were trying to do their duty as they saw it;
but when we look at this event as a war measure and see how totally the
Russians misconceived of the prowess and the skill of the Japanese we can
only say that Russia is lacking in the first essential of war—a knowledge
of the forces that she must contend against.
The Japanese command of the sea is now assured so far as Russia is
concerned and this will put an end to all speculation as to whether Japan
will be permitted to carry out her plans in Korea unmolested. This is
a severe disappointment to many Koreans but it may prove best for the
peninsula after all. After the strain and stress of war has been removed
and the Japanese authorities have time to examine the Korean question
in all its bearings, it is reasonable to hope that they will see fit to
arrange for the proper jurisdiction of their people in this country. In
spite of the views of some extremists we believe that affairs may be
so arranged here that the latter state of Korea and of Koreans will be
better than the former one.
We see from the _Times_ of London that Dr. Morrison’s recent brief
visit to Korea led him to make such optimistic statements, that that
influential periodical judges Japan’s work in Korea to be superior to
the work of England in Egypt. But we would like to inquire what Japan
has done for the common people of Korea that is any way comparable with
England’s work for the Fellahin of Egypt. We would not for a moment
disparage the splendid work that Japan has done along the line of railway
construction and of general trade in Korea but when anyone reports
the condition of affairs here in such terms that England’s peaceful
achievement’s in Egypt and India seem to be thrown into the shade, then
we are compelled to interpose a decided negative. Are the people of Egypt
governed better than before the English occupation? Incomparably better.
But the Koreans are governed no better than before, if as well. The great
public works put through solely for the benefit of the people of Egypt
have absolutely no counterpart whatever in this country. The railway was
a war measure which will benefit the people of Korea, but such help was a
secondary consideration entirely.
One good result of this great victory is that the state of harrowing
uncertainty in which the more conservative officials of Korea were
plunged has been cleared up. They know now definitely who their masters
are to be and they can prepare as best they may to accept the inevitable
with good grace.
There are so many rumors circulating that one can hardly put confidence
in the statement of any proposed reform in Korea until after the actual
event, but we hope that there is more than the ordinary amount of truth
in the report that Japanese police are to be stationed in each of the
prefectures of Korea. If this means a court of appeal to which Koreans
can bring cases of ill treatment with some hope of redress, a very
important step in advance will have been taken. Whatever happens to the
official ranks of Korea, we protest that the common people should be left
unmolested and that their personal liberty and their property rights
should not only not be impaired but, under the influence of the more
enlightened power of Japan, they should be more carefully preserved than
they ever have been under purely native control. American sympathy for
Japan is based upon the belief that Japan stands for the “square deal,”
and Americans believe the justice of Japan’s contention in this present
war is based upon Russia’s departure from this principle. Whatever
America’s good will may or may not mean to Japan, it will be lost if in
the flush of victory the latter should take undue advantage of their
power to despoil the Korean people of their territory either by seizure
or by forced sale. Such acts have been going on all about us, but it
is the hope of Japan’s well-wishers that the Japanese authorities will
repudiate such actions and put themselves on record as being unalterably
determined to give the common people of this country a “square deal.”
* * * * *
The appearance on June 3rd of the first number of the weekly _Seoul
Press_ is a matter on which foreign residents in Seoul and every other
portion of Korea should be congratulated. It is published by the firm
known as the Seoul Press of which Mr. J. W. Hodge is the manager. No
intimation is given in the first number as to the personnel of the
management of this weekly but we are pleased to learn from the editorial
column that “Our little paper will be run on a strictly honest and
independent basis, and will be the tool of no particular party, but
maintain itself on sound journalistic lines and principles.” The editor
invites all who are of a literary turn of mind to make use of his
columns and to endeavor to make the paper a success. We trust that our
new contemporary will not be disappointed in his plan and that he will
have the hearty support of the reading, the writing and the advertising
portions of our foreign community.
We feel sure that this publication will meet a very decided need in our
community and the fact that it is not a party organ nor committed to any
faction makes it doubly valuable. We shall expect to see facts published,
whoever may be pleased or displeased thereby. Almost all the news that
foreign papers in Japan get about Korea is taken from the reports in
native papers, from Japanese reporters in Korea. They thus get but one
side of the story. The world wants to know what is being _done_ in
Korea not mere statements of plans and theories. Every effort which the
Japanese authorities or private citizens put forth for the benefit of the
Korean people should be clearly and fully stated and full acknowledgement
should be made, and if there are evils which need to be remedied they
should be, in a kindly way, brought to the notice of the public so that
an intelligent opinion can be formed as to the exact situation here.
Public opinion is a mighty agency either for good or ill, but the only
way it can be legitimately used is by feeding it upon cold, hard facts.
That is what makes the difference between public opinion in England, and
in Russia. So we hope that this new periodical will hunt assiduously for
facts, and give them to us. We would rather have one column of facts
about Korea than ten columns of clippings from abroad. For this reason we
are pleased to see that the management of the _Seoul Press_ intends to
increase gradually its staff of reporters and correspondents throughout
the peninsula.
We wish this journalistic venture all success. The past ten years of
Korean history are strewn with wrecks of similar ventures but we trust
the time has now come when something permanent can be undertaken; and
when in about 1970 the citizens of Seoul look over the back files of the
_Seoul Press_, which will then be in its sixty-fifth year, they will say
with pride “This is the first genuine foreign newspaper in Korea.”
News Calendar.
The Home Department has written to all the provinces to the effect
that many of the laws are being disobeyed and people without means
of livelihood are wandering about the country accompanying powerful
Koreans or foreigners and tempting young people to sell or pawn their
rice fields or other property, generally in secret and then spend the
proceeds in riotous living. These debts have finally been collected of
parents or brothers by force, and these innocent parties complain that
their property is taken from them without cause. It is a shameful state
of affairs, and hereafter a father will not be compelled to pay the debts
of his son, and the son cannot sell the fields of his father. Any one
charged with this offence in future will be severely punished and the
governors are asked to notify all the magistrates.
Early in the month it was reported that the Russian soldiers in northern
Korea had exhausted all their funds and were demanding both money and
rice from every village.
The Il Chin Hoi in Chin Ju district expelled eighteen members and brought
six of them into court for punishment for illegal acts.
The following terms have been agreed upon between Korea and Japan for the
regulation of marine traffic between the two countries;
1. According to treaty Korean and Japanese vessels can sail along the
coast and on the rivers of both countries for commercial purposes.
2. To secure proper permit the owner or master of a vessel after applying
to the government authorities through his consul at any commercial port,
must apply to the customs authorities for a navigation permit. This
permit is good for one year only, and must contain the following:
a. Name and address of ship’s owner.
b. Kind of ship and number of tons.
3. The following rates must be paid either to secure the permit or to
have it renewed:
a. Twenty yen for each steamship or sail boat less than 100 tons.
b. Fifty yen for each steamer more than 100 tons and less than 500.
c. One Hundred yen for each steamship more than 500 and less than 1,000
tons.
d. Five hundred yen for each steamship of more than 1,000 tons.
4. With this permit a ship may sail along any coast or on any river, but
cannot sail through a closed harbor for any foreign part.
5. The permit must be exhibited on demand of any Customs officer or
magistrate.
6. After government consent has been granted only one storage house may
be erected at any given port, the maximum area to be not more than two
hundred square meters. This land must be cured by application to the
magistrate, and on expiration of the contract may be returned at original
price.
7. If the owner or master of vessel acts contrary to this agreement his
permit may be suspended by the Customs authorities, and if a serious
wrong is committed the permit may be cancelled.
8. Any ship sailing along the coasts or on the rivers of either country
without the above-mentioned permit will be examined by the consul and a
fine of not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred yen shall be
imposed.
9. If sailors on these ships act contrary to these articles and the
commercial treaties or disturb the peace the matter must be investigated
and adjudicated according to treaty.
10. This agreement shall be in force for five years.
It is reported that a new issue of 3-cent postage stamps for use in Korea
have been ordered from the Printing Bureau by the Japanese government.
In northern Choong Chung province the Righteous Army is said to be
increasing daily.
While here several members of the Japanese House of Commons visited the
Justice Court and city jail.
Yi Yang Pak, of Euiju, has been executed, having been charged with
injuring the military telegraph lines.
The Yang Chung prefect says the Japanese railway authorities have
demanded of him five hundred men to work thirty days each on the railway
line. He finds it difficult to get fifty men for ten days, during this
season of the year, and thinks the people should not be robbed of their
time for plowing and weeding their fields.
At the ceremony of opening the Keo-Fu Railway there were present from the
Japanese House of Peers, Count Ohgimachi, Count Matenakoji, Viscounts
Juonye, Tsutsumi, Akabe, Torii, Joiye, Matsdaira, Makino and others to
the number of twenty-eight, and from the House of Commons there were
Messrs. Yebarar, Sugita, Morimato, Hoselba, Ogino, Asano, Honai, Ando,
Fuknoka, Takenchi, Iwamato, Tsunada, Nagai, Ishida, Terada, Kimura,
Haseawa, Matsumoto and others to the number of one hundred and seventy
five, besides bankers, editors, shareholders, contractors and railway
managers. This distinguished company very strongly impressed the Korean
officials and the foreigners of various nationalities in Korea with the
substantial character behind Japanese commercial enterprises in Korea.
The governor of South Choong Chung asks the Home Department what
disposition to make of the request of the Japanese army that he shall
report concerning all the horses in the province.
Mr. Cho Min Huy, Korean Minister to Japan, has been notified by the
Foreign Office to return to Seoul. A reply has been received that Mr. Cho
is seriously ill, but will return after his recovery.
The governor of North Pyeng An province reports to the Foreign Office
that the prefect of Kang Kai has received a demand from the Japanese
army for two thousand oxen, to be delivered on the border of China, five
hundred miles distant. He bitterly complains because of the difficulty
in securing the oxen and the hardship imposed on the people during the
cultivation season.
All the French Legation Guards have departed from Seoul with the
exception of four who remain to look after the Russian Legation property.
In Juksau district about one hundred evil characters have gathered under
the name Righteous Army and have been squeezing money and rice. The
magistrate reported that his efforts to arrest them had failed because
each had a gun and ammunition.
The government has asked that the following be inserted in the agreement
between the Japanese and Korean Communication Departments:
1. All officers appointed must be Koreans.
2. Salaries of officers must be paid by Korean Finance Department.
3. Korean postage stamps must be used.
4. The duration of this agreement must be settled.
On the first of May the contract for communication service between Korea
and Japan was published in the Official Gazette.
From his country residence Mr. Min Yeng Kui, Minister of the Finance
Department, sent in his resignation, but it was not accepted.
The Minister of Finance has been requested to allow the free and
uninterrupted circulation of Japanese bank notes, without regard to the
condition of the Korean market.
One night recently many valuable jewels and several thousand yen were
taken from the home of one of the leading Ministers in the Korean
government. Thorough investigation revealed a trusted servant as the
guilty party. The goods were returned, and after a lecture in which
he was reminded that according to the law of the land he should be
imprisoned, the man was given a handsome present and dismissed from
service.
The Home Department has asked the War Department to despatch soldiers to
Choong Chung province to hasten the dispersal of robber bands.
Ten thousand boxes of gunpowder for the use of the British mines are just
now being imported into Korea.
Syn Tai-hu, Chief of Police, has sent identical notes to the police in
the five wards of Seoul to the effect that young boys found smoking
cigarettes must be whipped, and fathers neglecting to get the boys in
school must be punished.
The German Minister has requested the government to remove the granite
blocks from the compound of the new German Legation being erected outside
the West Gate of Seoul, and he also asks that the stones be used in the
repair of the city wall in that vicinity.
The Vice Minister of the Supreme Court asked for a modification of the
Communication agreement so that all officials and postage stamps be put
under the control of the Korean government, but the proposition has been
refused by the Japanese.