JAPAN IN KOREA.
IONS OF BUCĊEBA,
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12TH, 1907.
that during the Brst sighteen months of her administration no fewer than seventy-seven ministers either resigned or were removed from the service of the Government,
Japan
In view of the alarming amount of hostila criticism that finds increasing circalation con
has regarded her tank in Koms as ene of reconstruction and purgation from the rory corning Japan's administration in Korea, the
foundation of the Government upwards; she publie will doubtless be interested to know, says
found no substratum of either ability or the Tokyo correspondent of the Standard, the
character to baild up; she discovered no resulta of s somewhat careful inquiry tale what Japan has really been aiming to do in that institutions intact that a modern Htats could of the extent to take over and utiliss just as they stood, it brief survey country, with which she has been able to bring her pinus to not to be wondered at, in view of the radical changes that Japan proposed and has achievement. And if this necessarily meagre
now actually carried out, that the brief period review
of so vexed a question should result in
of her nesapation should be marked by a parsis- disappointent to those who all along have arpasted at Japan would have shown the same tot dirquiskude among the inhabitants, frequent competence, for celerity of reformation that ly lading expresion in rioting and bloodshed. attended her pot of of melioration in Formosa, ja am sot question with some whether Japan the that could be done with the there will be less liability to unjust criticism is doing if it be borne in mind that there is no reel material at hand; bat in view of the magnitude of her task in alleslating the condition of a identity of circumstances in the tek under degenerate nation, it must be admitted that no taken or the changes to be effected.
In Formosa Japan entered into her own conspicuous improvement can be justly expected possession and had free hand to plan and in so brief a space, no matter how perfect the 6.Xeonte
as she deemed expedient, whereas in means of reform. Korea she is regarded as an intrader, with a corrupt and moriband bureaucracy of centuries' growth to take to pieces and roosnatrust, and thatin spite of the unconsing opposition of a mass of people as ignorant and superstitious as say to be found on earth..
Notwithstanding the opinions of those who maintain that Japan is so sorper in Kores, we have to admit that she was imperatively obliged to enter upon the readjustment of Korsan affairs for the sake of her own safety as an ind pendent power;
THE MARQUIS ITO,
All will copour in soribing to the Marquis Ito the desire and the ability to ensure the social and civil elevation of Kores, if he is but gives a fair opportunity. Alest, if he should fail, there is no one als in Japan considered equal to it. Thers is apparently room for doubt whether his compatriots are doing all that might be done to facilitate the Marquis Ito's plans for the regeneration of Koran. His ardum; task is considerably retarded in ite consummation by the large number of irrespon- for from the close of the China-apsible Japanese now Acking into Keras afore war to the resumption of peace with Russia, the internal conditions, as well na the than 100,000 bare already betaken themselves foreign relations of Korea, were an unmitigated thith r. sad as yet the stream of immigration mento not only to Japan's own interents givna no sign of abatement. with respect to the balance of power in the Far Fart, but to the permanence of perce itself. After the close of the conflict with China, Korea, left free to chose her own destiny, quickly fell a prey to the designs of Russia, compelling the armed interference of Japan and plunging two great nations into the horrors of war.
This tremendous influx of Japaness adven turers, too often gaily of infeting abuse and injustice up in the ignorant inhabitants of Korea, continually tend to subarrass the situation. Still, the progress of reform is undoubtedly muuifst, and assuredly in tim abuses that way. now be general with some incidental, if
Трова they do not entirely disappear.
in After the signature of the Treaty of Ports. deepest sympathyth (Japna's struggle after modern ideals and conditions will month, permanently to safeguard the peace be free to acknowledge the magnificent which it proclaimed, it became absolutely neces Mary that some authority acceptable to the load. criscoe by which Japan has al ared her own frontiers and freed Korea from Russian ing Powers should undertake the management domination, thus placing the whole Oriental of Korean affairs until such time as that nation ebould evince a capacity for independent self-world in a position fearlessly and freely to dovelop its best of character and endeavour. government. As Japan was on the ground, so
The sincerity, determination, carage, and to speak, and the nearest of kin to the Koreane, it seemed only natural to the Powers concerned elsiency ovinced by that saorifice art that she should be assigned the task of reform- inevitably attend the progress of Japan's Korio: and, though ing Kores. Apart altogether from the inter- reorganisation of national aspect of the question the reign of occasionally there will be mistakes and often injustice and disbolical cruelty that was nach that is misaaderstood, we may feel decimating Kores called for interference in the confident that the ultimate outcome will make for the general enlightenment and freedom of interest of civilisation,
the Korean people.
JAPAN'S DIFFICULT TASK. Before Japan could enter upon the duty assigned her, she was at the outset confronted with the very unpleasant responsibility of for mally enforcing a protectorate of the country. Korea was approached in the most patient, con siderate, and diplomatic manner, and the con ditions carefully explained, but the overtaras of Japan were met by evasion, not to say re- sentment. It becoms evident to Japan that no good could be accomplished by tresting Conferesos Korea as an independent Power, between the representatives of the two nations was called in November, 1935, but the Koreans naturally, yet blindly averse to outside inter- ference, placed every obstruction in the way an amicable adjustment of the difficulty a corrupt and imbecile officialdem, encouraged by benighted and semi-savage populace, reaanted what was regarded as an unwarrastable as sumption on the part of Japan, and had prao tically to be forced into sabrasion to
a legal agreement placing Korea under the protection of Japan.
.
RAILWAYS AND ANS.
It would not be possible at this time to give any extended view of the many indiestions of achievement that already are attending the course of Japan's administration in Kores, The fine system of railways that Japan ha built from one end of the country to the other has greatly enhanced the land values of the interior, as well as proved & potent civilising factor; and Japanese loans are being devoted to developing the industrial and commercial resources of the country. Enermons sums have already been expanded by the Japazee Government on the improvement and extension of highways; for before the adrent of Japan there were no resda fit for horse vehicles. Modera systems of waterworks are already well under way in some of the larger towns and cities, and, with improved sanitation, the fearful epidemica to which Korea has been subject will become as rare as they now are in Japan,
mcover.
bravas, in qualifying for the dignity of matri- land, the low was to permit innocent trades many by the collection of heads in proof of their men, marrying on their busines in the only valour, may now pose as climpions of their race | practicable fashion, to enter into contracta
which
could never, they whan gratifying their blood-last upen soms be upon lated and outnumbered little party of camphor Of the two evils, the law chose the second, It left the seller to look out for himaslf. It stuck men, who at armament of fancied security have been suddenly taken noswares by their merciless close to the principles of agency, and said in foes. Thass, quite possibly, have been watch substance that any man who has business
married woman mu ing and counting the bonds for somtims pre-traumotions with a viously, for a head-hanter will lie in wait for either (1) make strict inquiry or (2) take the will take A risk of loss, days for his victim, who, he knows, certain path some time or other. Then from among the dense falinge and undergrowths he shoots bis victim at point-blank range, and with savage oxultation sovers the precious head of his quarry whether dead or alive, carrying it back to his village, where he is received with inconceivable honour and rejoicings.
third from
The tree from which camphor is obtained is a species of laurel indigenons to Formose, and it is on the moantains overrun by those terrikie hordes of head-hunters that the extensire forests from which practically the world draws its supply of camphor are fonad. Of nearly seven million pounds obtained annually, this small island produces al: but about 600,000 15., hat of which omes from Japan, Chins, and one-sixth from Borneo, Allowing for a reasonable incress in the world's demand, it is estimated that Formoss contains sofilciant camphor to supply the world for another bundred years and more, for Japan scrupulously plants now tree for every one cut down in pursuit of the industry. Many of the bat camphor-forests still le beyond the protected zone, in disputed territory, and into the the Japanese are gradually working, as they require the trees, by a system of block-houses from which their small posts can resist any attack by the savages. Japan is devoting herself with energy and success to the development of her Formes i colony, and in time no doubt will gain the mountsin interior and subdue the ferocious guardians of the camphor forsate.
A WIFE'S DEBTS.
WHY PAY THEM-A9 THE LAW NOW STANDH P
The object of this screed is not to encourage s No, gentle reader, you are (as usual) mistaken. series of frands upon excellent tradesmen. That would be, without doubt, contrary to good morals and public policy. No; my wholly invgosut object is to suggest that the law, to an important particular, needs amendment.
Married women are now the spoiled children. of English law-pot; of caarm, in ail respects but in some. It was not always so. For a long time the text-books treated questions relating to married woman midway between questions relating to lunatics. The ladies shared the disabilities of each of the other two classes. But then came the rough-and- ready hand of legislation, until now a saries of Married Women's Property Aots have placed wives and mothers in so greatly favoured a position again, in some respects that it is almost langerous to do business with them.
THE BLAMELESS TRADESMAN, The general question in maltor for a separate treaties. But I want to call attention to the women. To put the matter shortly, and ignora strange case of debts incurred by married unimportant exceptions, one may say that nowadays a married woman and her Lasbind are, in a financial sense, strangers The Lucband not dispose of his wile's property, or the wife of her husband's property. When she makes a contract, the presumption is that
น and she is making it "ou à rowo, But she can still, to a limited extent, pledge the credit of her husband. How is the blameless tradesman te know whether in fact she is doing so or aut 2
Plans have been formulated for a nationa]
system of education similar to that in Japan textbooks are in soarse of preparation for the That the Korean officials did not voluntarily new schools, for which Japanese vermal and anquierce in the suzerainty of Japan, ever
training colleges are to provide efficient Japan harmlf will be ready to adult; and for teachers. The Japaness mind, imbued as it is this peremptory assumption of the sovereign
with the spirit of modern scia-ce, has made rights of Korea Japan has been roundly scored special efforts to root out demoralising super and severely blamed by certain writers and publicists; but, in justice to Japan, it ought to be stitions, especially the pornicione prastics of the duty of her critics to suggest a method that,cery, but in the Imperial Court all attempts
in this direction had been without avail of
asoupying, the in the face of the necessity country, would have been at once more humane and more effective than that which Japan adopted. Japan could have made war upon Kores and formally annexed the country, as nations have done time and again, but she affected the inception of her task by peaceful and diplomatic means.
It is quite beside the mark to urge that Japate is in Kores without the consent and goodwill
AN INDUSTRY AT WAR.
DE FORMOSAN CAMPROR FORESTS. That so simple sa announcement as that the
price of camphor was rising could be in any way associated with the dread issues of life and death would never outer the mind of the ordinary reader, anys a writer in "Chamber's of the people over whom she essays her jurisdic-Fouras That the morsel of the fragrant tion. Though this be true, who will honestly drug which acte as tho sentinel of our say that her presence there is not as necessary wardrobe against the invasion of profatory to the improvement of Korean afsirs and the moths may stand for the death and dole of these maintenance of peace as the presence of the who won it in the dark Formosan forests-may United States is in Cuba, or of France in in very deed represent some dreary bum in Morocco. It is admittedly as much the right tragedy, and have been the sun of great of nations to protect their frontiers as it is to joy in some wild hill-village when the hantera ensure the progress of civilisation among their returned with the freshly serered heads-is weaker neighbours. Consequently Japan could hidden from all but a few. But to those of us not in the circumstances, have well dens other who kaow Formoss and the camphor trade, with wise than as she has done; and so long as she its terrible dangers, the little semi-transparent exercises a benign and enlightened influence in blocks which we purchase are invested with a her manipulation of Korean allairs it would
very real and even tragic interest; and when appear only right the dificulties of her
we are told that the price of camphor has risen, colossal endeavour should not be increased by it is as though the diminutive cakes we handle nefair criticism.
were sousitised with telepathic power and vibrant with the intimation of tragedy.
To initiate her plans to bring order out of chaos, and to accelerate the progress of reform. Japan at once called to her assistance ous of the foremost stateexon of the empire, the Marquis Ito, a diplomatist and an empirs builder of anquestioned repate at home and abread; and this grand old man" is now spending the and illustrious life declining years of his long
CORRUPT OFFICI¿LDUM.
No doubt, of course, the Japanese may nowa daye control the market, but it is never so certain that they can control the head hunting avages of the hills, and the development of this valuable industry, depends equally upon the succos of their easures for encountering
these termined and suppressing
and
like
as yet
The
The
Obviously, he cannot ask her. If he did, he world soon have no customers to sek. So he in left to the operation of the law, which som1- times moves in a mysterious way. Take the simplest, and commonest cave of a married wo- man who is living with her husband. question whether she can pledge his credit is rarely a questio of the law of agency. fact that she happens to be his wife is apparent buy, he is liable; otherwise not. Now, OF ly immateris!. If she is acting as his agent to COLTS no difficulty arises where a wife has expres authority to pledge her husband's credit. But, in the absencs of such authority, and sagh aathority is not common, the diffsuit questio srises whether authority is "implied." A long series of decisions- paed mention caly Deb nham v. Mellon," Jelly v. Rgs," Braton v. Benedict," Montagua . Hanediot." non Manby r. Scott"--has left the haw in a clear but nosatiefactory condition. There is a presumption that a wife living with her busha mil has his authority to pledge his credit for Decesarios that is to say, not merely for the baro neca stiag life but for all articles reasonably necessary for the manner and station in which the houselid Kro. That same fair and reasonable enough.
"
FOUR WTS.OUT.
The dialty is that in various ways the presumption may be rebultel, and therefore it may prove the merest pitfall for the unhappy "I think," said tradesman who relies upon it. Lord Blackburn in the case of * Dəbashem v. Mellon," said, if basband and wife are living. together, that is a presumption of fat from which the jury may infer that the husband really did give his wife snob authority. But, oven then, I de not think that the authority would arise so long as he supplied her with the raps of procuring-to-articles-otherwise
The presumption may, in fact, bo rebutted in any one of four distinct ways. If the husband is ened upon a contract mada by his wife ke may setup 11, as Lord Blackburn puit, that he hat his wife a sufficient allowance to enable given. her to procure necessaries; or (2) that he had, or that somebody had, already sufficiently supplied her with the sort of necessaries in question; or, again, (3) that he had forbidden the tradesmen to charge goods to him; or finally, (4) that had forbiddon his wife to pledge his credit, If the husband can nake gool any one of these four allegations of fact, this presumption is gone, end the unfortunate sellor many whistle for
money.:
in bringing his matare wisdom and experience a conquered tribes. Formoss, which is shaped to bear upon the task of mastering the com.
bage sole, has a rugged, plexities of the present situation with perman- mountainous backbone in which Mount Mer ent benefit to all concerned. While some of
rison towere into the clouds to a height of bis critics would dispute his right to be there, 12,000ft. Throughout the wild penetralia of none of them envy him his position, which is these mountains fort a number of warlike assuredly one of the most baf ag ever thrust tribes of varying strength, whose lives are upon public man. His is the duty of per devoted to hunting, fishing, and fighting with pusding people made distrustful of all ofcials one another, their one commanity of interest by centuries of orneity and maladministration being a passionate ardour in the collection
A CHOICE OF EVILS. that he and the country be represents are their of human heads, whether of their tribal friends, with no purpose alterier to that of enemies or of the Chinese and coolies who Now, is this quite fair? Of course, it is fair
liva оп the
verge of the bills or bettering the condition of Korea,
are enough that the tradesman should not is able xes, who well organised and determined, sa notics beforehand that he refuses to be held like Kores, where offleialdom was retten to the they are-have not yet succeeded in effealing liable. But what is to be said of the other thras Cases How it is to be known, or ascertained, care, the supervision of departments should be their conquest, bare already had some des largely in the hands of the Japanese themselves. perate encounters with these irreconciliable whether the elegant lady on the public side suficient allowance, Dr This attitude of the new administration - enemies, and parties of soldiers have eren been of the counter has turally strengthened the surmisings and exag-surprised and slaughtered and their heads not? How is it t be known, or ascertained, gerated the rears of the native population that borne away into the dark recesses of the moun- whether she has a sufficient supply, or not? Japan had come only on a campaign of spolia taius. For although these singular people have Abore all how can any on be expected tion, and greatly embarrassed the prospects of a been known to welcome the white stranger to to know whether the prudent husband, in the peaceful government of the country but there their villages with the greatest cordiality, with small hours of the morning, when there was was no other way, and it had to be done. The the camphor prospector they will hold no inter- nobody in the bedroom but his wife and himself, Irw Korean officials that had shown themselves cours regarding him as the avant-courier-of-a forbade the sharer of his joys to pledge his mcnable to veracity and common sense were foreign yoke, and his severed head in their credit! Yet a prohibition of that kind is, in retained, bat in time many of these succumbed remote villages is typical of the only terms on law, sufficient. to their old vioss, and their services had to be which they will ever consent to meet him natil It is easy and obvious to my that in this dispensed with.
the Naal conquest of their mountain stronghold cutter, as in so many others, the stile of the is achieved.
law represents a compromise. There were two Thus, while Chinese beads were at one time possible evils, one of which had to be chosen, most eagerly sought for, the growing danger Either the law was to permit a wifs to spend their continued independence created by the her husband's money, not only without bis presence of Japan has invested their actions knowledge and authority, but even in defiance with a newer rationale. Consequently the young of his express prohibition. Or, on the othe
It was, moroqvor, essential that fir a country engaged in the camphor industry. The Japa- to recorer if the husband has given bin clear
It would be quite impossible here to enter into a detailed account of all the obstructive astuteness to which the Korean authorities resorted in order to render abortive Japan's plans for reformation, but some idea of what she had to face may be gained from the fact
The question in-and I am not going-to- answer if, but only to submit it for considera- tion is this state of the law quile satisfactory? Cannot a middle way be found which would mitigate the apparent unfairne es of the existing law? If so, what is that way P-Morning
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