2
3th. (15th of 5th Moon). Sunday. Rain.
3
Has been raining ever since last Monday. The Chapel and the Club service as usual. The Independence Club sent a memorial to His Majesty begging him to dismiss unworthy persons from the government and to give the popular voice a share in the management of the affairs of the nation.
4
To be a leader is often to be a follower. I read of this before but I realize its truth only now.
6
4th. (16th). Monday. Fine.
7
A sunny day―bright and hot. The "At home" at the American Legation in honor of the "Glorious Fourth" came off very successfully. A beautiful day and a moonlit night in the rainy season is certainly a lucky thing. Dr. Allen tells me that, in his long experience in Seoul, he has not yet seen a bad day for the "4th" even in the rainiest season. He thinks that it is due to “American luck."
8
Mr. Krein, the German consul, would not exchange civilities with me, because I had reported in the Independent his rudeness to Mr. Yu Kui Whan, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs.
10
9th. (22nd). Saturday. Rain.
11
Hear that a big conspiracy has been discovered. Messrs. Kim Jai Poong, Yi Choong Ku, two ex-Commissioners of Police, Kim Jai Un, the Commander of a regiment of the Guard, Yi Namhui and Yi Chongim, two Commanders of battalions of the Guard, Yi Yonghan, an ex-Captain, Woo Nam Kiu, and Kim Kui Whang, two army officers have been arrested. General An Kyong Su is reported to have fled. What is up now? All sorts of rumors.
13
10th. (23rd). Sunday. Rain.
14
Attended the service at Dr. Reid's Chapel as usual.
15
Mr. Ko Yong Kun called on me at Dr. R.'s and asked me, in the name of His Majesty, what might be the best way for His Majesty to deal with the Club. As I regard Mr. Ko. a friend who is really interested in me on acc't of my uncle, Mr. Yi., I told him to tell His Majesty, there are two ways of dealing with the Club. One is to shut it up by an edict if His Majesty thinks he could do so. The other, and the better way, is to make the Club his friend. Tell His Majesty that I have no other way but the straight road to go. An attempt at diplomacy in my position would be fatal to the cause of his Majesty as well as to myself. His Majesty can best silence the Club by introducing and enforcing good and just laws. I must keep on in the straight course of frankness in my dealing with the people on one hand and with His Majesty on the other. "I can't afford to say one thing to His Majesty and another to the people." Mr. Ko. seemed to appreciate my situation and told me to go to the Palace for an audience as soon as the fact of my being appointed a councillor in the reorganized Privy Council be published in the Gazette. "This is what His Majesty told me to convey to you, as he does not like to call attention by sending messengers to call you to the Palace."
16
To the Club at 2 p.m. A full house. The reply of His Majesty to our last memorial was made known to the Club. It read thus: "What you have said seems to have been prompted by your solicitude for the country and your love for the people. But the affairs of government―you should not discuss them rashly going beyond your position."
18
The reply displeased the Club very much. When someone moved to give three cheers (Long live the Emperor) to His Majesty in honor or the imperial reply, a violent discussion ensued, a large minority opposing the motion on the ground that such cheers should proceed from glad and grateful hearts and not from mere formality. The measure, however, was carried by a small majority.
19
The Club decided to present another memorial to the Throne, asking the reasons for refusing the petition of the Club to enforce the good laws in the statute books, to dismiss evil councillors and to give the popular voice a share in the government. A Committee of five was appointed to prepare a memorial as soon as possible.
20
My father was appointed to the delicate and difficult position of the Commissioner of Police last night. Hear that Messrs. Min Yong Joon, and Pak Jung Yang were arrested this morning.
22
12th. (24th). Tuesday. Rain and sun.
23
For the first time in two weeks a sunny p.m. At 2 p.m. went to the Club to hear the committee report the memorial. The document was very strong. In substance it told His Majesty that wretched condition of the country was due not only to the evil councils of unworthy men but also to the desire of His Majesty to sacrifice the ultimate welfare of the state to the ease of the present moment. When the document, was ready to be sent in, a motion was made to give it three cheers. With a few exceptions, the house was decidedly opposed to the motion. They said that, as His Majesty has not treated them properly, they didn't want to waste the breath in shouting unwilling cheers. "Whenever," one said "His Majesty listens to our demand for good government, then I shall shout for joy a million times. But now I don't feel like degrading my cheers by giving them out of mere farce." Nobody was in the humor to cheer and a new spirit of manliness seemed to thrill the crowd as they with stern countenances stood up in silence and lifted their right hands in token of their respect as the man with the memorial walked out of the Hall. The scene was the most impressive one I have seen in this land of servility.
24
This morning called on my father in his office. He showed me the depositions of the prisoners. They all agreed in saying that General An had asked them to join a plot whose object was to make His Majesty to resign his Throne to the Crown Prince. One of the prisoners said that An Kyongsu had told him that both the Russian and Japanese Legations as well as the Independence Club were enlisted in the cause.
25
It may be here noted that the Club memorial was started this time by men known to be the partisans of An Kyongsu.
26
This second memorial is a strong one and am afraid it will kill or cure the Club.
28
13th. (25th). Wednesday. Steamy.
29
Very disagreeable. Occasional showers. Rumors, all day long, of my arrest. Many friends came to see me in the office to find out how true (or false) the report was. No use of talking; there is as much likelihood in the report as I am uneasy of my situation. It pains me to see my father and mother in constant dread that I might be arrested. Mother said to me time and again in all her maternal affection, "I would rather you were far away in America than see you in constant danger. I sometimes wish that my son were a stupid fellow who eats and drinks and is contented therewith, having neither ambition nor reputation. In a country like this smartness and renown only court danger and uneasiness."
30
The events between the above date and the 1st Nov. see the Independent.
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