2
4th.(21st of 5th Moon).
3
At 11 a.m. paid an official call on Dr. Allen. He said that he had proposed my name for the Korean consul for Honolulu. I thanked him. He said further, "The Korean Legation in Washington is rather a shaky institution now, but the Honolulu post is likely to be permanent, no matter what Japan may do here."
6
Japanese are pressing the concession scheme in all directions and by all means―official threats, secret intriguing and bribing, arresting and imprisoning any and all who memorialize against the monopoly. Called on Gale. He hoped that I would not go to Hawaii, "If I did not believe there is Providence, I would give up all hope for Korea. But somehow or other I believe there is a better time coming and we need men like you here."
9
Sent to Sir J.N. Jordan my article setting forth the Korean side of the recent excitement in regard to the Japanese concession. (By the way Mr. Gale to whom I showed the paper advised me not publish it in a Seoul paper lest Japanese may spot and knife me.) Sir Jordan in answer said "Your command of English simply amazes me"―which implied that he did not endorse my arguments. My father strongly opposes my going to Hawaii. "What for will you go? There is neither honor nor money nor public service nor private profit. We, I and your mother, are getting old. You would have to come home if far away. Will you now go away tens of thousands of li now that you are with us? No, do not think of it."
12
At 11 a.m., called on Sir Jordan. In brief, he said that it was unreasonable―merely the dog-in-the-mangerism―that Koreans should be unwilling to throw open the country to Japan.
13
"Korea has been the cause of two great wars of Japan. Do you expect Japanese will again let you be the causus belli every 10 years? The 20th Century world can not tolerate you or any people to play a dog in the manger. If you can not develop as you have not developed, the rich resources of your country, somebody else must do it for you, and Japan is right in insisting on it. She can not go to a life and death war just to let you abuse a rich country. Last 10 years, you have had all the opportunity you could wish for of raising the country to a higher plane of prosperity. But you did nothing of the sort. You have no patriotism; at least I have not found it among your officials during the last ten years I have been here. What do you mean by trying to keep Korea shut?"
14
To all this shame or shamelessness itself could not answer. But I told Sir Jordan that I did not blame Japan for trying to control Korea or to enlarge her interests here; that I would not blame Japanese if they annexed this country; that what I object to concerning the Nagamori concession was not that it might hurt the dynastic interests or those of the present generation, but that the monopoly cut off all hopes for the economic growth and national prosperity of the untold generations of Korea. This kind of policy will drive all Korea anti-Japanese, which will hurt Korea primarily and Japan secondarily. Koreans will side with Russians against Japanese the first chance Korea has hereafter, inspite of the fact that Korea will be far worse off under Russia than under Japan. By introducing a decent government and by relieving the oppressive burdens of the people, Japan will win the people of Korea; and by winning the people of Korea, she will accomplish all she wants without having to fight for a concession. It is the monopoly I hate. If Japan must have Korea, let her (Japan) enter in free competition.
15
Every department of life in Korea is permeated through and through with good natured incompetency. Look at the mail carriers, for instance. These public messengers walk or creep along the streets as if they had eternity to walk in. Some of them are crippled old men. By their side, in competition with them, there nimbler run the Japanese post or telegraph deliverers. Nay, they are on bicycles. Run this comparison all through up and down and you have the explanation complete why Japanese should have this country.
16
The slowness and utter unblushing indifference to shame and emulation among Koreans make one jumping mad.
17
From the standpoint of a Korean, it is hard indeed and heart-breaking to see hundreds of Korean houses demolished to give room to Japanese stations and shops etc. But where there was filth and nothing but filth, now you see Japanese introducing good roads, odorless ditches and decent houses. Can anybody except Koreans regret the change? If Koreans will not up and learn, Japanese will have all―and God is right in so ordering.
20
Left house at 6:30 for 僧伽寺 where Father has gone for a rest. Rickshaw practicable only as far as to the bottom of the North Gate hill. From there I had to foot it. The up hill business from 平貧 on takes one hour and a half. Found the temple still clad in mist at 9:30. A beautiful location. The city of Seoul and the winding river almost at the foot of the high mountain on which is perched the monastery. Good water from a cave. Father and our children all well, seeming to enjoy the good air and water.
21
Father tells me that some 30 or 50 years ago on the mountains all along the road and all around the temple majestic trees were so thick that one could hardly see the sky in summer. Now no trees, absolutely none, anywhere on the numerous slopes. All bare and barren. Now roots of trees are dug and dug and dug by the villagers and monks for fuel. Thus the very hope itself of reforestation is gone. The curse of one vile man in the supreme position goes as deep as the roots of trees.
22
The other day I called on Yi S.J. Was so glad to see him. He was strong and hearty as ever. He told me that he had joined the church while he was in prison. He said that God was just to have raised a wretch in the Yi family and to have given him a long reign in order to visit on him the punishment of all the sins of the 28 Kings of the dynasty.
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