2
6th.(21st of 2nd Moon). Beautiful Day. (TABLE)
3
==Chair coolies 4==6.40==
6
==Inn expenses 上床 下床==1.16==
14
Wretched Korea! As the Prince as the Ministers―absolutely destitute of all sentiments of patriotism or honor. So hardened unselfishness that they can see no difference in right or wrong.―The pusillanimous term ( ) with which a minister clings to his office is pity and contemptible.
15
Mon pére who memorialized the Emperor against Yi Yong Ik saying that Nai Chang Won, the curse of the country ought to be abolished and that the Military Department ought to be reorganized on proper basis, etc. haven't shown the least sign of doing anything in either department, 內藏院 or 軍部 though he has been ironically given both the positions. He is the director of 內藏院 but dare not abolish or abuse or introduce or reform―as care not to offend the Emperor as Yi Yong Ik. His passion for office so great that he seems to have no sense of shame as long as he holds the coveted office.
16
Now Mon pére is only a sample and comparatively a fair and honest sample of its ministers. No use hoping for any reformation!
20
The office-seekers in Korea, both in and out, are almost all rotten to the core. The choice between any two men is not the choice between a rascal and an honest man but between a rascal who is for, and a rascal who is against, you. Through the Japanese influence 申珩模 owns for the Kamniship of Wonsan. I know he is not a saint but no worse than a great many others I am acquainted with―like 朴勝鳳 etc, for example. Yet to Sin's appointment 金益昇 opposes solely on the ground of 申's embezzlement of public money some years ago. 金, the cheater, liar, speculator casting the first stone at 申!
22
15th. (30th of 2nd Moon). Rain.
23
Last night between 10 and 11 fire broke out in the Han Hyong Jun in the new palace. Strong and steady east wind, the crowded condition of the boxlike buildings in the Palace and the absence of proper means of arresting, this flame all combined to burn down everything within the walls. Ten years of extortion wasted on senseless and useless buildings―its foundation laid on tears and its hideous colors painted in blood―all reduced to ashes in 3 hours. Git to J.? One may say so if this was the end of corruption and despotism.
24
The Emperor, while the Palace was in blaze, called in horologists and geomancers and architects to discuss the rebuilding of the Palace. "Experience is a dear school but fools never learn it either."
25
This a.m. at about 4 had the honor of being introduced to the presence of the Emperor by General Min Y. Whan. His Majesty said to Min "왜 인저서 왓늬?" He asked where I lived. He was in good spirit laughing and talking as if nothing of consequence has happened. I was involuntarily moved to tears at his kindly words. Such the power of an autocrat over a common mind?
28
No two days bright and clear in succession. Dampish cloudy and chilly all in turn.
29
Yi Ha Yong, our new Minister, I like him. He appointed me Kamni of Mokpo when acting last winter. From a Japanese mochi vender(못지장사) in the streets of Fusan when a boy; then a "boy" in Dr. Allen's house; then a chusa only when I saw him first in '95, now he is a minister of state. The greater wonder is that he behaves as if he were a born Yangban. I like him better than Yi Wan Yong and his brother.
30
Minister Yi tells me that the Emperor has avowed his determination to chop off the head of any who might oppose the rebuilding scheme. Prince Yi Chai Wa the other day suggested to the Emperor to remove to the Eastern Palace. The Emperor was so angry that he could hardly find breath to talk. Casting a withering look of indignation on the unfortunate Prince, the Emperor said "When I die, you may move to the Eastern Palace with the Crown Prince: 나 죽거던 태자궁이나 데리고 가거라) "
31
Incorrigeble―hopeless.
34
Yesterday, Brown told me that His Majesty had agreed to pay over 7 hundred thousand Yen to Colbran and Bostwick and Company and to give over the whole plan of the Electric Car onto them―all this concession without any compensating service on the part of the Colbran and Bostwick and Company. Yi Hak Kiun was the villain who got this hellish business through, while he was in hiding in Miss Sontag's house. The Emperor signed away the plan and money―1 1/2 million Yen all together from the start―just to get the American protection falsely promised by Colbran and Bostwick through Yi H. K.!!!
35
The wretch Yi H. K. is reported to have died in Shanghai from a broken skull caused by falling from a horse. One villain rightly served. But what is the use of it as long as the prolific hotbed of vilains and vermins still flourishes. Japanese seem to have deceived to keep up that hotbed to serve their own ends no matter what a people suffer. A shortsighted policy. Next time Korea has a chance, she will turn completely on Japan. Such an opportunity to win the gratitude of Korea, and Japan would abuse it!
36
Yi Ha Yong's appointment: to persuade Hayashi not to insist on His Majesty's returning to the Eastern Palace.
38
It was sometime in last November. We were in 天安. One morning, Yun Bi-In told me that in a dream the preceding night, the a junes etc. of the prefecture congratulated me on my being promoted to the Acting Ministership of the Foreign Office. About a week later I was appointed the Kamni of Mokpo, the first step to the series of events which led to my appointment to the position of Vice Minister, Foreign Office.
39
Sometime las December a gang of robbers murdered two men―one a 山直 of our family―in the village of Sam Kori. One night the 21st January, in the month of January this Year, my cousin, 자근희 in a dream, saw the two murdered men enter her room. They said to her "The man who murdered us, O by name, is caught, Won't you revenge our death?" Then they disappeared. My cousin naturally awoke chilled with fear. She dared not mention the dream to her parents, but to her sister-in-law. On that very day a suspicious man was caught in an out-of-the-way inn and brought to my uncle, and the man's name was found to be O. The strange coincidence frightened my cousin more than ever.
42
What! Have we the rainy season already upon us? It rained all day yesterday. The air is thick and sticky today and the pale sun does not assure us that the weather is going to be clear.
43
This Foreign Office has 32 officials and 56 underlings altogether 88 people, in a place whose work can be better done with, say, 15. No wonder it is impossible to keep any secret in the Office. Despatches received or sent by the office get published in the papers even before the Minister sees the despatch in case it comes from someone; and before it is sealed and sent, in case it is one sent from the Office. Oh how I wish I could have the absolute power to clean out the stable called the Korean government!
44
The policy of the Emperor:
45
To rob the Korean people and to be robbed by other nationals: 조선사람의 것은 고 타국사람의 게는 기가
46
The policy of Korean ministers: To depend on somebody in order to oppress the Koreans.
47
The policy of Japanese is to make Korea independent of others in order to be dependent on Japan.
48
The Japanese criterion of a good Korean and a bad one: Will he serve Japanese interest? Japanese have so far protected and promoted anybody, however vile and corrupt, who would obey them. Examples Kwon Jong Duk. Hyon Yong Woon etc. etc.
49
The so-called advice or 忠告 of Japan is not for the good of Korea, but for the promotion of Japanese interests―and that alone. They, the Japanese, will turn heaven and earth in order to get the reluctant Emperor to do things for the interest of Japan, but will not lift a little finger to persuade the Emperor to introduce needed reforms. The Protocol of the Korea―Japan alliance provides that Japan shall advise(忠告) the Korean government for the improvement of the internal administration. That is: Japan took on herself the self-imposed and thankless task of introducing a good government in Korea for the benefit of Koreans. Now, what has Japan done in that line? Her 忠告 has been mostly for her own interest―that alone: such as the peremptory occupation of strategic points all over the country; the demand for extending fishing concessions along the coast of Hwanghai, Pyong-An and Choong-Chung Provinces; the infernal demand for conceding to a Japanese syndicate the right of cultivating all lands not now owned by the state or a private party, of cutting the timber in what forests there are left in the land; of fishing and hunting everywhere―in fact the rights of swallowing the country in one mouthful. The Japanese 忠告 is also seen―or rather the nature and effect seen―in the recommendation and support of such notorious rascals as Cho Byong Sik, Pak Ui Byong, Hyon Yong Woon, Kwon Jong Suk, Pak Yong Hwa etc.
50
Mr. Yi Ha Yong tells me that Kokubu asked him to appoint Hong Soon Wookthe Kamni of Sung Chin: Another 忠告. Hong, the damnable wretch who flayed the large district of Pyong-Yang―the villian who ought to be hung if there were a decent Emperor in this cursed country―this man is an object of "advice."
51
Another tract of valuable land(二千坪) outside of the South Gate demanded to be added to the already large station property―if not granted, it will be forcibly occupied. Another 忠告.
52
I am credibly informed that His Majesty is engaged in boiling Japanese Maps in a caldron―a singular means of cursing Japan and her cause. He will be confirmed in his belief by the report received yesterday, that a Russian torpedo boat had blown up a small Japanese coaster 五洋丸 in the harbor of Wonsan. When the war broke out in Chemulpo, while the deadly cannonading was going on, the worthy monarch was busy with his fortunetellers. At the request of his sorceresses, caldrons were buried with bottoms up in the four corners of the courtyard of the Palace. Some were also so buried outside of the Palace gate. The Japanese know well enough that the Emperor is an irreconcilable foe of Japan and the worst enemy of Korea; that strait jacketing him is the only hope of delivering Korea from the disservice of a rotten administration; that such a delivery will win the hearts of Koreans to Japan. But the Japanes in the Legation are so blinded with gold that they do not know what is really good for Japan when they see it.
53
Kokubu, the Japanese interpreter of the Legation, shares with Hyon Yong Woon, the latter's concubine. She rules Kokubu, Kokubu rules the Minister, the Minister rules the Emperor of Korea―so the source of power in the political world of Korea today is the cooperation bed of Hyon's concubine!
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