2
1st. Monday. Cloud and sunshine.
3
Y.M.C.A. as usual. Discrimination, racial, national caste, sectarian, individual―or what not, is rooted deep in human nature. As long as there are differences in the grades of civilization―as long as there are inferior and superior grades of some sort, so long there will be discriminations. No law, no lecture, no sermonizing will make the whiteman give up his discrimination against a colored-man until the latter shall have proved to be his equal or superior. No law or sermonizing will make the Japanese do away with his discrimination against the Korean until the Korean shall have proved to be his equal in all things. First seek to improve your condition intellectual, and economical, then all these things―equal treatment and equal opportunities―will be added unto you.
5
2nd. Tuesday. Cloudy-sultry. Showers evening.
6
Y.M.C.A. as usual. About 10 a.m. Mr. Wasson dropped in to consult me about the best way of disposing the ＄20,000 which the Board promises to grant to the Mission for agricultural purposes. His idea is to buy lands in the districts where our work is located to serve two purposes―one as the endowment fund for the Anglo-Korean School, and the other to give the benefit of cultivating the land to the Christians. I heartily approved of the scheme.
7
5 p.m. Admiral Saito arrived. 7 p.m. I went to the station with 文姬 and 善姬 to meet Bish. L. and party―who didn't come! Was astounded to learn from Dr. Avison that some fool had thrown a bomb at Admiral Saito and that missing him the projectile had injured several by-standers. Too bad. Had the Koreans forgotten that the assassination of Mr. Ito hastened the annexation? Fools!
9
3rd. Wednesday. East wind and rain―All day and night.
10
The rainy season has come like a baby born out of due time. The miserable bomb affair yesterday is so bad that I am tempted to suspect that it was a trick played by some Japanese―to place the Koreans in a bad light. Nothing can hurt the Korean cause than acts of violence or lawlessness.
11
Called on Mr. 山縣五十雄. He is very optimistic about the reforms which the new Governor General has in contemplation. Lunched with him at the Chosen Hotel.
12
7 p.m. terrible storm of rain and wind. Went to Station to meet Bish. L. and Dr. Rawlings. One hour late, all lights out in the station―storm raged. The Bishop and party did come at last. The shade trees on the streets all blown down and the sign boards scattered over the pavements of the side walks. The biggest storm I have seen in Seoul.
14
4th. Thursday. Showers in the morning―sunshine noon.
15
Last night's terrific storms have done much damage to trees and roofings. Only hope the crops in the country have not suffered too much.
16
This has so far been a terrible year to the Korean people. War, famine, drought, rain, typhoon, cholera―all this with no human prospect of peace in near future. The agitators now look forward to the 3rd of Oct.―the day said to be fixed for the first convention of the League of Nations in Washington, for the final success of the Korean independece cause. When that day shall have come and gone they will agitate for the second convention of the League―and so on and infin.―times. The Koreans must first learn the lessons of discipline of self- control of cooperation, of sacrificing small interests and differences to the well-being of the whole!
18
5th. Friday. Cloudy a.m.
19
Left Seoul by 7:05 a.m. train for Wonsan. Arrived at Wonsan about 3 p.m. Put up at 明沈旅館. Attended the evening session of the Conference. Miss Howel addressed the audience and I interpreted for her.
20
The Seoul and Wonsan road runs through the famous Sam Bang Pass―the wooded hills, the mighty rock walls, the clear rushing streams winding about in the shape of the letter S present charming scenery that I can never get tired of. In other lands the men has cooperated with nature for the preservation and promotion of beauty, while in Korean Nature has struggled against the infamous man to keep her primitive beauty―often in vain. Every time I look up on the man defaced, barren mountains I can't help thinking: No wonder God has given this beautiful land to somebody else!
22
6th. Saturday. Beautiful.
23
Wonsan. Conference from 9 to 12. Lunch at the Ladies' Home. Mrs. Rawlings, whom I found a pretty and winsome bride in her Baltimore home nearly 30 years ago, has grown to be a stately woman. Miss Howel, the Secretary of Women's B. of Missions is a lively and attractive woman who is too handsome to have lived―as she is living―the life of single blessedness.
24
The Home, and the Girls' School are located between two arms of hills facing toward the beautiful blue Bay of Wonsan.
25
Certainly Wonsan is a beautiful place for a home especially a summer home. I wish I could have one―I love the blue ocean so much―not to sail on it but to look on it. The building for Girls' School is simply too good and too grand for this place! The mission had it shown more commonsense in the matter.
27
7th. Sunday. Beautiful.
28
Wonsan. Worshipped at the 上里 Church. Lord Supper, sermon by Dr. Rawlings, ordination of elders―2:30 hours. Coming out of the Church I was accosted by a very pretty woman―who I met in Samwha 19 years ago. But for a little blemish in her eyes, she would have been a very attractive woman. The Catholic Mission, home, coisily located between two hills, surrounded by beautiful trees looks pretty and picture-like. Just above on the side of a hill a Canadian Presbyterian has built a new home. Now, the Catholic Father and the Presbyterian brother, believe in the same God and the same Christ whose love they prefers to preach. Yet one can hardly conceive a stronger enmity than that which keeps these two men apart. Now, isn't this bad?
30
8th. Monday. Steamy a.m. Rain from 2:30 p.m.
31
Wonsan. Conference in the morning. Had a chat with Dr. Rawlings. Rain from 3 p.m. The streets awfully muddy. Bish. L. and his party had a family conference with the Korean delegates asking them to speak out their needs etc.
32
Some related the persecution they had suffered from the local police after the Independence agitations broke out. Some spoke of the great necessity of more laborors and better equipment for reaching the young men of their districts. One young man suggested that the missionary should study more carefully the habits and customs of the Korean people so as to cultivate more friendly and social relations with them. When two of the men were called upon to pray for the sufferers in the prison there was weeping and sobbing all over the room.
34
9th. Tuesday. Cloud and sunshine.
35
Wonsan. Annual Conference from 9 a.m. Closed about 12. Welcome and farewell meeting in honor of the visitors.
36
Wasson asked me to resume the principalship of the Song Do High School! My experience in the Anglo-Korean School was on the whole so unpleasant that I can think of no position that I care less than it―being free to choose my professions. To be nominally the principal and yet be, in reality, so restricted in my powers that I can't appropriate a cent or dismiss a teacher,―to play a figurehead is an exceedingly disagreeable job.
37
Lunch at Dr. Ross's. A chat with Bish. L. He told me that while I was in prison his wife prayed for my deliverance month after month. Once, on his return from an extended journey he suggested to Mrs. L. that they should pray for my release. She said that they didn't need to do as the burden was off her heart. A few days later he received the news of my release.
39
10th. Wednesday. Beautiful.
40
After breakfast with Mr. 具 called on Miss Manheimer. As was expected, she was very bitter against the allies, and especially, America. She said, "This world is now being run by three Ds, the Devil, the Dollar and Deception. The Americans used to call the Kaiser the Anti-Christ, but they have now found out that Wilson is the Anti-Christ. We Germans are not a people to be crushed. There is not a German who doesn't want to fight to free ourselves from the barbarism of the Allies." She thinks, the Germans are incapable of lying, that it is the Allies that have been lying. Left Wonsan by the 12:05 train for Seoul. Arrived Seoul about 7 p.m. All well at home.
42
11th. Thursday. Beautiful.
43
Y.M.C.A. till 3 p.m. At 4 p.m. went to the reception given by the new Governor Genl. at the official residence of the Governor. A large number of Koreans, Japanese of various religious sects and a few missionaries were out. I was introduced to the Governor General and Mr. Mizuno by Mr. Yamagata of the Seoul Press. The two gentlemen above named acknowledged having read my paper on the "Causes of the Korean Dissatisfaction with the Japanese Regime"―papper which I had given to Mr. Yamagata a week ago.
44
Mr. Yamagata told me that the Governor of Mr. Mi. were much pleased with my frank statements and that they liked to know if I would consent to become a provincial Governor. I said I couldn't accept any office. That would be worse than the principalship of the A.K.S.!
46
12th. Friday. Beautiful. 白雲, left for 平澤
47
Y.M.C.A. in the morning. Home in the afternoon. About 3:20 p.m. a young fair-looking girl called on me and presented a document purported to have been issued by the Korean People's Association, demanding, in the name of the Secretary of the Military Department, a financial contribution to the cause of Korean independence, I frankly told her that I couldn't give any money as it would expose me and family to immidiate dangers, and that it was strange that the leaders who dare not risk their lives by coming boldly to Korea would ask me to risk my life by supplying them with money. She took the document and went away looking disappointed.
49
13th. Saturday. Beautiful. 芳吉 in regard to 致昌's Passport.
50
About 10 a.m. Mr. 鄭雲濬 came to see me―a rare thing in itself. He told me that the new Gov.-Genl. had instructed all the Provincial Governors to send up to Seoul 2 or 3 representative Koreans from each Province, that they will all be in the city on the 19th inst; they will be invited to the Gov. Genl's office to be informed of the plans of reformation, etc.; and that Mr. 國友, had asked him(Mr. 鄭) , Mr. 劉猛, and me to address the crowd(!) I had to tell him that until some steps are taken to prove the bonafide intention of the Government to make the welfare of the Korean people, the main object of the reformation―until something is done toward the eradication of the impression that it is the Koreans' well-being and not the Korea's land, that Japan is working after―until then what I or anybody may say will fall on deaf ears. On that ground I begged to be excused. 8 p.m. telephone message from wife asking me to come at once as 明姬 is seriously ill. Left Seoul by 11:00 night train. Reached Song Do home 12:30.
52
14th. Sunday. Rain drops now and then.
53
Song Do home. Baby sick of diarrhea. Wife so afraid of this being known to the police who are hunting after cholera that she hasn't dared to get medicine for the precious little one. We had to dispatch 郭漢泳 to Seoul to get medicine by the morning train. He returned by the noon train with medicine and Mary Abbe.
55
15th. Monday. Cloud and sunshine.
56
Song Do home. Suppose Japan gave back to Korea its independenence. 1. Will Korea be able to send 330 thousand Japanese out of the Peninsula who are settled all over the country as snug as a bug in a rug? Impossible. 2. Will Korea be able to buy out all the railroads, steamship lines, telegraphs and telephones, banks, industrial and agricultural plants that Japan has firmly established in the land? Impossible? 3. Will Korea be able to abolish the extra-territoriality and its corollary, the consular jurisdiction―over the Japanese? Possible, but not probable. 4. Will Korea be able to raise equip. and maintain army and a navy strong enough in quality and quantity to protect its territory and enforce its laws? Impossible.
58
16th. Tuesday. Beautiful.
59
Song Do home. Yesterday's questions continued. 5. Will Korea be able to stop the stream of immigrants from Japan that is growing in volume year after year, to possess the land flowing with milk and money? Impossible. 6. Will the Koreans be patriotic enough to unite for one common purpose, instead of falling into pro-Japanese, pro-American and other innumerable factions? Not likely. If so, what good will nominal independence do for the real welfare of the Korean? Hence I believe that the best interest of the Korean will be better promoted by keeping the present status with Home Rule, than merely a nominal independence, with all its uncertainties.
61
17th. Wednesday. Beautiful.
62
Song Do home. 11:30 a.m. went to the station to meet Bishop and his party. Supper at Mr. Wassons's. Bish. Lambuth led the prayer meeting in the Northward Church. After him Dr. Rawlings talked on the Centinary Movement and that so long that the welcome meeting which the members of the three city congregations had planned to hold for the visitors had to be postponed until tomorrow night―a joke on Dr. Rawlings.
63
Bish. L. told me that he and his party were entertained at a luncheon by the Gov. Genl. Two remarkable things: 1. Bish. L. was asked to say grace at the table(!) and 2. no wine of any kind was used.
65
18th. Thursday. Beautiful.
66
Song Do home. Lunch at Mr. Anderson's home with Bish. L. and party. Bish. L. gave me two African proverbs which are very striking: "If you are an anvil, be patient; but strike hard if you are a hammer." "Beware of the man who can not look you in the eye; but beware of the woman who can."
67
A Belgian pastor told Bish. L. that the Belgian people had to practice deception and dissimulation so long during the terrible German occupation that their moral sensibilities have been deadened to an alarming degree.
68
The members of the 3―city churches gave a Welcome Reception to Bish. L. and party. A few drops of present with a bucket of speeches.
70
19th. Friday. Cloudy in the morning but bright and hot rest of the day.
71
Song Do home. 2:30 p.m. a 警部 from the Song Do Police Station called on me and delivered the message from Mr. 松永the Gov. of the 京畿 Province asking me to come to 中樞院 at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Between 3 and 4 Bishop Lambuth, Dr. and Mrs. Rawlings and Miss Howell came to our home to have a cup of tea. They seemed to be pleased with our place and our reception. Certainly I was glad to have them to visit us at our home. God be with them!
72
Left Song Do by 5:40 p.m. train for Seoul. Bish. L. and party on the same train. Told Bish. L. and Dr. R. that I couldn't accept the principalship of the Song Do School. 1st because I can't leave my mother and 2nd because my position would be so awkward, "between the devil and the deep," that I could not be of any use. Bish. L. saw the point at once.
74
20th. Saturday. Beautiful.
75
9 a.m. went to 中樞院. Found assembled there 52 men representing the 13 Provinces. The Conference began about 9:30 with the opening remarks of Mr. 赤池 of the Home Affairs. The purpose of the Conference said to be 上下意思疏通 and 官長一致. Succeeding him Col. Aomura of the Japanese Navy addressed the meeting on what he saw and heard in the Paris Conference. He emphasized the fact that the Korean question had no hearing in the Conference. In the p.m. session Mr. 劉猛 spoke on the Korean Japanese Relations. He had the exceedingly bad taste of comparing the worst acts of last years of Yi Dynasty with the best acts of the Japanese regime. The people were mad, good and hot. The authorities should never have asked a Korean to lecture on this occasion. The Japanese are awfully ignorant of the psychology and sentiment of the Korean people.
77
21st. Sunday. Beautiful.
78
Worshipped at the 宗橋 Church as usual.
79
3 p.m. a Gospel meeting at Y.M.C.A. at which Mr. 李商在 spoke. First meeting of the kind since the 1st of March. A large crowd. Mr. 任眞淳 from 大田 said: 面長은 面長의 成績, 郡守는 郡守의 成績, 道長官은 道長官의 成績―成績競爭 가온朝鮮百姓은 다 죽넌다.
80
Mr. 鄭雲濬 tells me he once said to a Japanese: "When you see an intelligent and smart Korean you discard him as a Namaiki. When you see a stupid Korean, you reject him as a "baka". So between "namaikis" and "bakas", you lose all Koreans.
82
22nd. Monday. Beautiful.
83
9 a.m. went to the Conference in 中樞院 In the morning Mr. 山縣五十雄 addressed the meeting on "The Conditions of the World of Today". He said that the annexation of Korea was the union of two people of equal standing and not a conquest by force. He mentioned the horrible race discriminations of the Whites against the Blacks in America, and asked the people if the Japanese had ever treated the Korean in a like manner. The people were very much offended at this comparison. Mr. 山縣 should have remembered that the difference between the Jap. and the Kor. is not so fundamental and glaring as the difference between the White and the Black. In the p.m. session Mr. 柳一宣 delivered a scholarly and masterly address on 徹底的內鮮一體. "We must not brag about 50 centuries of past history but endeavor to make a history for the coming 50 centuries". "We must love Japan not for the sake of Japan but for the real interest of Korea". "We must unite with Japan not for past enmities but for present and future friendship."
85
23rd. Tuesday. Beautiful―A passing shower 3 p.m. Cool.
86
Went to the Conference at 9 as usual. Was told the Home Affair Department had taken over the management of the Conference from the hands of the Police Dept. In the morning session, Mr. 水野, the Administrative Chief, addressed the meeting. He said among other things: "My sincere desire is to promote the happiness of the Korean people. The annexation was brought about by the desire of the two Emperors to preserve the peace of the East and by the unanimous wishes of the two peoples.
87
爲政之要는 治者被治者의 意思疏通小無間隔에 在한다. 諸君의 希望과 不平을 余의게 披瀝하기를 望한다. 目的이 良好하여도 手續이 煩苛하고 形式이 複雜하면 目的을 妨害한다. 諭告와 訓示은 無用이니 地方視察官을 使用하야 訓示의 約否를 察코자 한다. 地方自治의 機關을 設置하겠다.
88
“The people very much pleased with the address. Mr. 大塚the Director Home Affair Bureau followed 水野. He proposed to introduce a system of local self-government(地方自治制度) . Conformable to the custom and the degree of enlightenment of the people. p.m. session 鮮于恂DB주석 talked about his efforts to bring about this conference! What a fool!
90
24th. Wednesday. Beautiful.
91
9 a.m. to the Conference as usual. 鄭雲濬 gave an address on "Knowing One's self." In the p.m. session Mr. 西村 of the Treasury Bureau lectured. Among other sensible things he said: "The world is moved by power and not by argument. The essence of the national power is man and money. Korea is a rich country in all departments of produce. Her resources await development."
92
5 p.m. went to the residence of the Gov. Genl. for supper. The Governor looked tired and tired he must be to go through all these dry official functions. 8 p.m. the representatives from the country repaired to 太和館 to discuss and prepare a statement of the needs and grievances and demands of the people to be presented to the authorities tomorrow. After lengthy discussion, 19 articles were drawn up embodying the desires of the people. Didn't go to bed until 4 a.m. I acted Chairman.
94
25th. Thursday. Beautiful.
95
9 a.m. In the morning session, the 19 articles of the popular wishes were presented. Each article was explained. When the representatives got through Mr. 大塚 threw a bucket of ice water on the crowd by saying "you seem to labor under the notion that you are real representatives of the people. Some of you talk as if this were a parliament(國會) . Our purpose today is to discuss the plans and methods of 宣傳(propaganda) and not to debate on the policies of the Government as if you were members of parliament(議員) . 大塚's brutal remarks killed whatever good impressions the sensible address of Mr. 水野 had made on the people. They said: "we see now that what the authorities wanted of us is not to know our needs and wishes but to use us as tools for propaganda." In the p.m. session the representatives from 慶北, 全州, 海州 and 忠南 voiced the sentiment of the crowd by flatly telling 大塚 that they couldn't―wouldn't do the propaganda work. 朴永根 said: "I did once before. I can't lie again."
97
26th. Friday. Beautiful.
98
8:30 a.m. before going to the Conference, called on Mr. 山縣五十雄 and frankly told him the folly of the 宣傳 or propaganda plan which Mr. 大塚 insisted on yesteeday afternoon; and suggested that the offensive word should be dropped today to prevent any unpleasant outburst of dissatisfaction from the people. Mr. 山縣 agreed with me and promised to present the suggestion to the proper authorities. It was about 10 when I got to 中樞院. Mr. 口田the Director of Educational Bureau gave a sensible talk on his work. Ten years ago primary schools 100, now 569. 實業學校 then 18, now 98. Special schools then none, now 7. Private schools then 1500, now 778. The educational burden of the Korean people only 6 sen 4 ri per house. In the p.m. session, Mr. 大塚 passed lightly over the 宣傳 plan, not insisting on it. The Conference declared closed at 2:30 p.m.
100
27th. Saturday. Beautiful.
101
Y.M.C.A. in the morning. 4:30 p.m. went to 花月樓 at the invitation of Mr. Kato, Editor in Chief of the 每日新聞. Nearly half of the men from the country came. Mr. K. asked them to 宣傳 what they have learned from the Conference. It seems the 宣傳 business was the central thought and final aim of the Conference.
102
The manly and straightforward refusal of the men to be used as the tools of the degrading propaganda must have been a matter of disappointment to the authors of the scheme. The whole trouble lies in the regretable fact that the Japanese bureaucrats are still utterly ignorant of the real causes of the universal disaffection of the Korean people. 8:30 p.m. went to 太和館 to attend a reception given by the 京城有志者 in honor of the guests from the country. The 有志者 so called, were most of them like 全益昇, 鄭應卨 etc., the debris of the official wreckage of old Korea. The whole gathering not edifying.
104
28th. Sunday. Beautiful.
105
Worshipped at 宗橋 Church as usual. Dr. Moffett preached a strong sermon. "As long as God lives we ought not to despair", was the substance of his talk. Cousin 致昭 tells me that certain class of Koreans think I am worse than Yi Wan Yong―because I wouldn't join the Mansei crowd!
106
It is reported that, in a conference which the Governor of So. Choong Chung Do held with the Korean notables of his district, a Korean proposed two means of settling amicably the race problems in Korea. "First: Japan had a population of 50 millions. Korea has 16 millions. Let the former kill out the latter―which would be an easy job. Second: there are 330 thousand Japanese in Korea. Let them all pack and return to Japan." This may be a faction but it expresses the desperate opinion of the vast majority of the Korean people.
108
29th. Monday. Beautiful.
109
2 pm. called on Gov. Genl. and the Administrative Chief to present a petition from the people of 平澤 praying the Government to make 平澤 the starting point of the light R.R. to be built.
110
According to 邊壎 the police, having been informed of the fact that 300 bombs have lately been brought into Seoul by a number of desperate agitators, are on the qui vive today. A large number of policemen are armed with rifles in addition to their usual swords. The whole town presents a very martial appearance. Suspicion and repression on the side of the rulers, fear and resentment on the side of the ruled; hatred on the both sides. The more or less liberal policies of the new officials seem to struggle hard against the opposition of the old bureaucrats who can see nothing but slaves in the Koreans whom they have oppressed last 10 years.
112
30th. Tuesday. Beautiful.
113
Lunch at Y.M.C.A. 4:30 afternoon went to Dr. Avison's home to attend a special meeting of the Board of Managers of Chosen Christian College. Didn't get through until 7:30.
114
To mistake slovenliness for philosophical disdain for outward show, or improvidence, for lofty disregard of lore is one of the vices of the Confucian scholar. I have no respect for the virtues of a man who is so thoughtless and improvident as to expose his wife and children to the hardships and indignities of a homeless life when he, by a little effort, could have provided them with a home―a comfortable home at that. A vice is most dangerous when it is mistaken for a virtue.
|
