A short time ago we gave the firat part of a paper by Kwo-in Ken, a Chinese Stateman, on the policy for Corea. We now continue the paper as follow:.It will probably be answered, that although America's character might justify an alliance with Corea, such a step would inevitably afford a precedent to England, France, Germany, Italy, and other nations.
This, however, is exactly what seems desirable. Corea can find no better means of frustrating Russian aggression than to sign treaties with other European Powers, for it will then be their care to preserve her integrity. Moreover, let her be ever so unwilling to admit them, they will inevitably compel her to open her doors sooner or later; for among the many hundred nations of the world, great and small alike, Corea alone is closed to-day to foreign intercourse; a state of things that cannot possibly remain permanent. Should it so happen, ever, that Russia is the first to establish a footing in the peninsula, England, France, Germany and America, who are the Muscovite's enemies, will not be content to leave him in sole possession, but will each take some portion for herself, a0 that Corea's partition will only bea matter of time, Some years ago Poland was divided between Russia, Germany and Austria, and last year the same fate would have overtaken Tuirkey, had not the Russian forees been withdrawn. For Corea, indeed, the birth-place of so many great warriors, and the object of the gods' special favour, alike misfortune may not be lightly pro-phossied,; but there can be no doubt that if she persists in her policy of seclusion, she will at last_have to cross swords with the Western Powers, and defeat would signify nothing more' or less than treatment such as Burmah and Annam experience at the hands of England and France policy of seclusion there is yet another to-day. Even though she abandon her
auger to be guarded against. It is that may be inveigled into making a o ded and unjust treaty, which will deprive her for a time of her rights, and which she will not be permitted to revise. until, in the course of years, she becomes sufficiently rich and powerful to lysist upon doing so. If, however, she receives an American Envoy first, he will draw up for her an impartial treaty, in accordance with the principles of international law, and other -owors will be obliged to adopt this asa precedent.
The welfare of Asia is inseparable from that of Corea, and she has therefore no reason to doubt the sincerity of this advice, Having thus examined and combated the various objections that may be urged by the conservative party in Corea, it remains to point out how the policy recommended by the writer is to be put into first, then, the treaties with hina and Japan should be revised with the view of establishing more friendly relations, and Envoys should be sent to Peking, Tokiyo and Washington, Fusan, and Jinson should be opened to American merchant ships, so that the trade there may not be monopolised by the Tupanese, and Coreans should be permitted to visit' Nagasaki and Yokohama for commercial purposes. Application should 30 be made to China for permission to lopt the Drayon Flag, which Corea ought to take as her national standard; and students should be sent to China or Jay to received instruction in military tactics, the manufacture of arms, and naval construction. Others also should be sent westward to study astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, mineralogy and geology, while schools ought to be opened at Fusan and elsewhere, under foreign teachers, for instruction in sciences of all sorts. ' This is the only true path to progress, After all, too, it can only be for Corea's benefit to' make impartial treaties with other nations in times of peace. She must not regard the treaties made by China and Japan" with Western States as true examples. By those treaties the rights of China and 'Japan have been largely invaded; but this is attributable to those countries' ignorance of Western i national law and their inability to re armed pressure put upon them. The case would be different with Corea, for so long as she does not resist by force, no exorbitant and unreasonable demands can be made upon her. It will simply be arranged, that since European and Asiatic laws and customs differ, the foreign merchants resident in Corea, though subject to her Municipal regulations, will be under, the authority of their own Consuls for purposes of jurisdiction, and this concession, too, will by degrees become unnecessary. Moreover, the powers of the Consuls themselves will be limited, while the importation of poisonous drugs and the preaching of strange religions will be under duo control.
Neither can it be doubted that foreign intercourse would largely benefit Corean commerce. Asia, with its great climatic advantages, is perhaps the most productive continent in the world. Even since the "Tang (618-907) and Sung (960-1279) dynasties, China, through the agency of her Board of Trade, has carried on commerce with other nations. The vast sums of money now in circulation throughout the Empire have all been imported in by-gone centuries, and though vf late specie has became more or less scarce, this is entirely owing to the opium trade. Japan, on her side, has not bettered herself by foreign commerce, but this is because she has adopted Zuropenu dress and employs European commodities. Ifa country does not use foreign goods, commerce with, other countries must always be to her benefit. Corea, though comparatively poor, produces gold, silver, cereals, &e. in tolerable abundance. The returns of Corean trade with Japan during the past year, show that the imports were 620,000 yen and the exports 680,000 yen, so that Corea's actual vain was sixty or seventy thousand yen, and under these circumstances it is plain that the result of a properly managed trade will be to enrich all classes. Moreover, the Customs duties may be applied for " part of the rational expenditure, which in itself is a positive The benefits to be derived from foreign trade, also, are not entirely dependent on the natural resources of a country. Thus Britain produces cot trance, only.
and Pert nothing' but gold an 0 nations are all renowned Tu ancient times India had no tea or Ik, Java no sugar, and Japan no cotton, but i ry has all this to the profit of those countries Austral in the extreme south and Kamtschatka in the north; were utterly uninhabited once upon a time, but even their waste places are now converted into fruitful lands. How much more so, then, ought this to be the case with Corea, which is situated in the Temperate Zone, is comparatively fertile, and possesses a people naturally clever and skilful, If, with the aid of Western hor finances be carefully administered, hor inhabitants educated and her industry developed, while the cultivation of what hor soil already produces is extended, and the things she does not yet produce, introduced from abroad, there is nothing to prevent her becoming a wealthy kingdom hereafter. Thus, for example, if European mining method ployed at her gold and silver mines, their yield would be immensely increased, anew field for industry opened up, and large profits realised. Further, the tendency of foreign intercourse is to strengthen a nation's powers of defence, The Chinese sages, indeed, in bygone ages taught that valour and military skill aren't worthy of esteem, and that the first object of State government ought to be a quiet and undemonstrative routine. In accordance with this doctrine, the spirit of competition was checked, and the development of arts tending to excite rivalry, discouraged, mon being taught that greater victories were to be gained over oneself than over one's fellows. Now, however, powerful neighbours press upon us from all directions, constantly barrassing and In old times ships moved jow they go by steam. Cairiages were drawn by horses; now, by an iron machine; communications were made by-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.