March 12, 1896.]
augurated by the Treaties, and wished to introduce into Korea the foreign customs and learning adopted by the Eastern neighbour. The support of two opposite parties in a country which China and Japan wished to control was a sufficient cause to provoke a conflict between the two powers, but there was a still greater canse of danger in the distrust and suspicion which each felt for the
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
China, could not act against the party which caused the misgovernment, because they were her friends, and she had sent troops to support them. Notwithstanding these reasons, it would have been better for China to have accepted Japan's proposals; Korea, a poor country, was net worth a war, and the nominal suzerainty was only a question of puerile vanity."
Some critics have been severe in their con-
other. Every political disturbance (and they demnation of Japan for entering upon what has happen often in a disordered country like been termed an "unprovoked" war, and, as an Korea, which has been the prey of family aggravation of the offence, it is said she had feuds for centuries) was sure to be attributed been preparing for the conflict for years. A war to the machinations of the rival uations.etween Japan and China to decide whether pro- The prudence of statesmen was able to deferressive or reactionary ideas should determine the conflict, but it was not likely to prevent it the policy of the Far East was inevitable sooner indefinitely."
or later; circumstances precipitated the condiot, and Japan was found ready for it. By European countries preparedness for war is considered a primary duty, and it cannot be counted an offence that Japan shoull also have recognised it as a duty.
The course of the narrative brings us to the murder of Kim-Ok-Kiun at Shanghai by a follow Korean. The murderer and the body of the murdered man were delivered up to the Chinese and then conveyed on board & Chinese man-of-war to Korea. On arrival in that country "rich rewards were heaped upon Hung, while the body of Kim-Ok-Kian wag quartered and the mutilated fragments exposed in the different provinces of the kingdom." Vladimir is severe in his condemnation of the
Such an
The war itself was such a very one-sided affair that it is impossible to make anything like a thrilling narrative out of it! The conreg and ability were all on one side, the cowardice and corruption од the other.
unequal conflict affords
what policy pursued at Shanghai in connection with i but little data for judging
the that affair. The murderer, he contends, should, Japanese might be capable of if they were have been tried on the spot.
upposed to a fos who would fight. What "Indeed it is regrettable that any foreigner interest there is attaching to the operations of should have forgotten the high mission which the war between China and Japan centres it behoves him to fulfil in China, where every stay in the naval encounters. Of the first of European or American should consider himself these the fight at Phung Island, Vladimir as the pioneer of a nobler civilisation which adopts a view that is rather astonishing. Fong, has to be engrafted into the aged empire. The the captain of the Taiyuen, who ran away and delivery of Hung and the body of Kim was I
subsequently proved his cowardice again at the foolish and base action. It showed weakness, battle of the Yalu, is accorded numeasured and it pandered to the vilest instincts of bar praise. The fight of the Triyucu and Kwangyi barism. It was sad that white men, forgetful with the throe Japanese men-of-war, each of of all the glories of their race, should descend which would have been more than a match from the high place to which they have for both of them, was certainly," says Vladimir, been elevated by centuries of Christian and
"a plucky affair. It is the boldest sotion philosophical progress, and become accomplices of the war the only one in which the Chi- in the shameful practices of the barbarous nese engaged overwhelming odds, and it Government of Korea. But it is not necessary
is strange that Fong, the captain of the to waste words to stigmatise this action, beigen, was beheaded two months after cause it brought its own punishment on all those concerned. The rest of this book will show that the false step taken at Shanghai was the primary cause of that acute state of the Korean question which led to the war between China and Japan. The war had already been prevented on two former occasions, and it might still have been averted for many years if further provocation had been spared to the excited political parties of the Korean Peninsula. China would not have lost thousands of lives and millions of money, and foreign merchants would not have suffered from a painful depres. sion. If the step was taken in deference to the Chinese Government it showed an erroneous
appreciation of the true aspects of the questions of the Far East; in that case, as in all others, the most friendly action towards China is firmly to prevent her committing those mis- takes to which her ignorance of international law and usage renders her liable. True friends are never servile; they never renounce their con- victions and their feelings to subserve the weakness and prejudices of those in whom they
words for cowardice. It is the duty of history to correct the mistakes and prejudices of tho transient moment, when men's passions
excited and their judgment aro
blinded; and against the hasty death sentence pro- nounced by literary mandarins ignorant of warfare, it is fair to adduce the opinion of the competent Japanese naval officers who had fought against Fong, and the testimony of, the German engineer who had served on his ship." The fact is that Fong had no idea of fighting and when he fell in with the Japanese his sole object was to make good his escape, and he hoisted a white flag. If the circumstances of this fight were not sufficient to convict him of absolute cowardice, as those of the Yelu engage ment were, there was certainly nothing plucky about his action,
207
again take part in the war. If you cannot consent to that, perhaps you will agree that the armament be taken from the ship, and her hull only be restored, in which case Chang Pi. kuang will not be disgraced, but will have some apology to offer to his commanding officer. Trusting that your Excellency will appreciate the situation, I await your reply."
A Mystery of Herne Bay. By C. J. H. HAL-
-
COMBE, Author of “ Called Out," "Tales of Far Cathay," etc., eto. Herne Bay: James Watkinson.
Mr HALCOMBE's friends in the Far East will be interested and pleased with the latest pro- duction of his fertile pen. In a little book of a hundred and twenty pages we have a sensational tale told in rather florid language and with an abundance of dramatic incident. Mr. Halcombe is & romanoist pare and simple; he declines to be bound by any laws of probability, and instead of making his narrative centre, after the man- ner of most modern novelists, in a miuate portrayal and dissection of character, he relies on quick movement and stirring events. The talo is told in the first person by the hero, We have a lovely heroine the Queen of the Midnight Ses and the owner of a mysterious yacht-and three villains. The latter are dis- posed of by the hero and heroine on the cliffs, but never word is said about the inquest, or how the bodies were dealt with. Finally the hero and heroine go-off together in the yacht (ue chaperone in the case) on a mission to rescue the heroine's father, detained by brigands in Spain. This is what transpired when the here gift on board :-
I was remarking upon the cleanliness of everything aboard--especially of the guns, when my companion said enthusiastically, Not only my guns are clean and bright-but also my meu.
Mr. Clifford,' she said, turning to an officer in uniform, sound the assembly for the Forlorn Hope.'
*
Saluting in respectful acknowledgment of this command, he repeated it to the boatswain, who went forward, and then a bugle cull rang out clear and musical.
**Come a little further aft' she said, a proud flush of zealous approval mantling her cheeks, as forty smart-looking British seamen appeared.
**Shoulder arms! close order! march!' were
the commands issued, as the small company came marching aft with a fearless swinging stop, commanded by its smart and dashing officers with drawn swords at the elupe.
were the
'Halt! order arms! 'tention! final orders issued in a clear and manly voice se the men formed up.
My heroine now stepped forward with me, and as we passed along the line, the men
presented arms.
"Splendid follows!! Are they not?' she said, in a tremulous voice of deep admiration We must conclude our notice of this inte- and regard, as we watched them march forward Those men would follow me anywhere resting book with a humorons incident that again. occurred after the surrender of Wei-hai-wei.and go to their death with a smile and cheer, The Kuvangping was a small vessel of the Canton if I were to order them on. They are typical squadron which was temporartly attached to Englishmen--noble fellows, every one of them: the Peiyang squadron, and she was one of the and I am proud of my command! And they are vessels to be delivered to the Japanese. Her all sailors, and will form my crow for the return An interesting account is given of the Tong captain felt uneasy at having to return without vorage."
The story ends rather abruptly and a sequel Hak movement, started in 1859 by a religious his vessel, and he preferred a request that she
is promised. visionary who had received some impresions should be given back, urging that she belonged from the Christian propaganda. Like the to the Canton squadron, which had taken no Taiping movement, it developed into a re-part in the war. This comic request was after- bellion, and was the immediate cause of the re- cent convulsion.
feel an interest."
"The Japanese Government considered the Tong-Hak movement not an accidental occur rence, but the inevitable consequence of the persisting misgovernment of the country, and argued that the rebellion could not be sup- pressed, nor its recurrence prevented, unless radical reforms were carried out in Korea, Japan proposed that reforms should be insti- tuted, and asked China to assist her in enforcing them. Chins refused to join in such measures, not deeming them necessary, and not wishing to interfere in the internal affairs of the penin- sula. The suggestion of the Japanese Govern. ment, which had thus created another difficulty, was a very clever move; it placed China in a dilemma: the mingovernment of Kores was evident and difficult to be denied, yet
wards repeated by Taotai Nui, who write to Admiral Ito as follows :---
K
Excellency.---I have the honour to point out that the Kuang-ping belongs to the Kangtung Squadron. In the spring of last year, at the asnal inspection by Li-Chung-tang, the Kuan chia, the Kuang-yi, and Kuang-ping came to attend the assembly of the Northern Squadron, and at its conclusion ought to have returned, but for certain reason remained with the Paiyang fleet temporarily. The Kuang-chia and Kuang-yi have both been lost, and of the three Kuangtung slips only the Kuang-ping remains; Kuangtung had nothing to do with the present war, and if it loses all three ships we shall have no excuses to offer to the Kuangtung Commander-in-Chief. Should your Excellency, sympathising with ps, restore the Kuang-ping, I promise that she shall no
"
The memorial on Christian Missions, recently presented to the Emperor, says the Peking and Tientsin Times, was of a very important charac- ter and we hope in due course to present our readers with a translation, if not of the whole idea of presenting some such memorial was document, of the substance of its contents. The thought of as long ago as the last Shanghai Missionary Conference, in 1889, though it was looked upon by many as a hopeless step to attempt. We now learn that, in response, the Emperor has ordered the Tanngh Yaman to consult with Mr. Richard as to the best way of patting an end to missionary troubles, and has granted twe out of the three requests made to im. Such a step taken by the Throne in the face of the highest ranks of officialdom, should have beneficial effect upon the polioy of Viceroys and Governors throughout the Empira