Mr. Heard to Mr.
Gresham.
No. 4.]
Legation of the
United States,
Seoul,
Korea, April 20, 1893. (Received May
23.)
Sir: Since my dispatches with regard to the Tong
Hâk, of April 4, 6, and 7, no serious incident has taken place, but
considerable agitation has prevailed among the native community. The
officials and higher
[Page 11]
classes persist
in denying that any danger is to be apprehended, though the streets are
strongly patrolled at night, and it is said that several arrests have been
made. Many petitions have been presented to, the King by bodies of scholars
and officials, asking that the Tong Hâk should be severely punished, and His
Majesty replied on the 13th instant by a decree in the Royal Gazette, of
which a translation is inclosed. The sensation of the fortnight, however,
has been the receipt of a manifesto of the Tong Hâk a few days ago, which
was affixed to the gate of the Yamên of the governor of Cholla Do, and said
to have been posted in every district of the province. It is reported to
have been telegraphed to the King, accompanied by alarming statements of the
strength and determination of the signers. It is very violent and calls for
the extermination of foreigners. I inclose a translation.
On the 13th instant the Japanese consul issued a notification privately to
his countrymen warning them that, in consequence of the approach of the Tong
Hâk, it was necessary to prepare the women and children for immediate
removal to Chemulpo. The Korean authorities would, no doubt, do their best
to protect them, but this protection was not to be relied on, and all strong
and able-bodied men were ordered to report themselves at the police station
or the consulate for instructions.
This notification was brought me on the afternoon of the 14th instant, and I
at once wrote to Mr. Sugimura to ask if it were true that he had issued it,
and added that if he had I presumed he had in his possession authentice
intelligence of danger.
He replied that he had issued a notice, but that his information was derived
only from rumor. He had, however, sent trustworthy men to Cholla Do to
investigate, and on their return he would communicate to me any facts they
might bring. The immediate occasion of this notification was the posting on
his gates of an insulting placard ordering the Japanese to leave the country
forthwith. Many families of Japanese have betaken themselves, I am told,
already to Chemulpo for security.
On casting one’s eyes over the summary of events, one can hardly help feeling
that something serious is preparing; but yet the confidence one has in the
peaceful nature of the Koreans and the long absence of any demonstration of
hostility have contributed to produce an almost total lack of alarm among
foreigners, although, of course, there are exceptions. So much is this the
case that H. M. S. Severn, 6,000 tons, a large
cruiser, arrived in Chemulpo oh the 15th instant and left again yesterday
for Shanghai. Captain Henderson told Mr. Hillier that he would respond to
any telegraph and be here in case of necessity in less than forty-eight
hours. I asked Mr. Hillier, when he mentioned this to me, if he felt certain
he would be able, in the event of a serious attack on foreigners, to use the
telegraph. He confessed he had not thought of this.
Apart from the danger of willful interference, there is danger of accidental
break, which occurs frequently. The line to Fusan is now interrupted.
Although there is a very general disinclination to regard the situation as
serious, there are a few persons who think it possible; that behind the
screen of the Tong Hâk there may be preparing the return blow of the Tai
Wen-kun for the attempt on his life last year. If this be the case, the
situation is very grave indeed. Commander Dayton’s statement that the State
Department had telegraphed Admiral Harmony to send a ship here leads me to
suspect that the King had made the request that this should be done through
his legation in Washington,
[Page 12]
as he
did at the time of the death of the Queen Dowager, in 1890. I think there is
no question that he is much alarmed at the present state of things.
On the morning of Sunday, the 16th instant, I received a telegram from
Admiral Harmony, dated at Nagasaki, asking, “Is there any trouble in Korea?”
I replied immediately, “Wrote you 6th; some alarm; doubt if real danger;
sending ship would be prudent.”
On the afternoon of Tuesday, the 19th instant, the U. S. S. Petrel arrived in Chemulpo, and her commander, J. H. Dayton, with
four of his officers, came to Seoul the next day. They are now here.
Commander Dayton informed me that he was on his way from Yokohama to
Shanghai, and touching at Nagasaki on Sunday found the admiral preparing to
leave for Korea in consequence of orders from the State Department. The Petrel was sent instead, immediately. The admiral had
telegraphed me, but had received no reply.
Commander Dayton had seen Captain Henderson of the Severn, and was disposed to return to his ship and leave at once.
As Captain Henderson had made up his mind to go away, he naturally did not
give Commander Dayton the impression that it was necessary to remain; but I
told him that under the circumstances I thought it was his duty to remain,
at any rate for a few days, and then be governed by circumstances, which he
very willingly consented to do.
A day or two after the date of my dispatch of April 7 two Chinese ironclads
arrived in Chemulpo, and since then two Japanese men-of-war. They still
remain there. No ammunition having been received for the rifles, of which I
had the honor to advise the receipt last mail, I have requested Commander
Dayton to supply me with 50 rounds per rifle, or 600 cartridges.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
4—Translation.]
decree.
[Published in Korean Court Gazette of
April 13,
1893.]
Some Confucian scholars have recently submitted a petition to us, the
contents of which have greatly surprised and grieved us.
Foolish and simple people have been stirred up and deluded by vague and
meaningless talk, which has gradually imbued their minds and unsettled
them. The laws have been set at naught by blinded and disorderly
persons, to the bitter disappointment of well-disposed people. Now, the
great principles upon which laws are based is to exhortations followed
by punishments, and audacious contempt of the laws is carried to an
extreme when people are willfully deluded by strange and heterodox
talk.
The ignorant must not thus be imposed upon with impunity, and
metropolitan and provincial authorities are hereby called upon to arrest
the so-called heads of this movement forthwith. They are, further, to
prohibit the spread of this heterodoxy by proclamations, and cause
everyone to attend quietly to their own affairs.
If these evil ways are not amended, and people assemble together and
become clamorous, will not the authorities hear of it? If it comes to
their knowledge, and they stand by with folded hands, will they not be
failing in their duty as leaders and guardians, and be remiss in the
adoption of preventive measures? Would such conduct as this be called
loyal fulfillment of their obligations? In the capital there are courts
of justice; in the provinces, official establishments. The penalties
incurred will be determined by the exigencies of the locality, and it
will be the duty of the officials to make use of every means at their
disposal under pain of severe treatment if they fail to do so.
The purport of this loyal order will be embodied in street orders which
will be issued by the authorities with a view to compelling the people
to amend their ways and to live peaceably. They must be made aware that
the law shall be obeyed.
[Page 13]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 4.]
Translation of manifesto issued by members of the
Tong Hâk Society,
Men have three tasks which confront them in the fulfillment of the duties
of life.
- (1)
- The task of laying down rules or limitations of conduct under
which they shall carry out the requirements of loyalty to their
fullest extent and, if needs be, to sacrifice their lives as
servants of their country.
- (2)
- To put forth all their efforts in the direction of loyalty and
filial piety and to die, if needs be, for the sake of their personal
belongings.
- (3)
- To maintain widowed chastity and to die, if needs be, in the
fulfillment of conjugal obligations.
Life and death are the appointed lot of all mankind; this is the
unfailing law, whatever may betide. Those who are born in times of
freedom from trouble and in periods of peace and happiness should pursue
the path of patriotism and filial piety with a joyous heart, while, on
the other hand, those who live in seasons of danger and difficulty
should sacrifice their lives in the cause of patriotism and of filial
piety. This is the task of all true servants of the state, and is a task
that may devolve upon them in the course of the permutations of things.
Those who love their lives are opposed by the difficulty of sacrificing
their lives in the service of their King and their parents. Those who
are ready to sacrifice their lives will willingly accept the task of
giving them up for their King or their parents, and no one who clings to
life can be a true subject or son. Those who are ready to part joyfully
with life are the men who are capable of building principles of loyalty
and filial piety upon a sure foundation.
Japanese and foreign rebels and thieves are now introduced into the very
bowels of our land and anarchy has reached its zenith. Just look round
on the capital under present conditions. It is the lair and den of
barbarians. Think of the oath of [the year] Yen Ch’en,1 of the disgrace of [the year] Ping-tzŭ!2 Can you bear to forget it? Can you bear to talk of it?
Our three thousand millions of people in the Eastern Kingdom are now all
in the grasp of wild beasts, and our ancestral homes of five hundred
years’ duration will shortly witness the disaster of dispersion and
dismemberment. Alas for charity, patriotism, prosperity, prudence,
filial piety, brotherly love, loyalty, and good faith! What has become
of then all at the present time?
Let it, moreover, be remembered that most of the Japanese rebels cherish
feelings of hatred toward us, and nurture within them the germs of
disaster for our land which they will bring forth to our hurt. The
danger threatens us at any moment, and can we regard the situation with
tranquillity? It might truly be said of the present condition of affairs
that it is in proximity of brushwood.
We who issue this notice are simple, ignorant people, but for all that we
are inheritors of the laws laid down by previous rulers, and we till the
ground of our King to maintain our fathers and mothers. Although
officials and people differ as honorable and commons, where is there any
difference between them in the obligations of loyalty and filial
piety?
We desire to display our humble loyalty to the State and to secure to her
loyal and upright servants their state emoluments to which they are
entitled; but we are perplexed as to what to do, and it is not for us to
institute comparisons as to the sincerity of our love for the King and
loyalty to our country. There is an old saying, “When a great house is
about to fall one piece of wood will not support it; when a great wave
is about to roll in a single net will not keep it back.”
We, who number several millions, have sworn to the death that we will
unite in one common effort to sweep out the Japanese and foreigners and
bring them to ruin in our sage desire to render to our country the
fidelity which, even a dog will show to his master, and we humbly hope
that everyone, within one common resolution, will combine their efforts
and will select loyal and patriotic gentry to assist them in supporting
the wish of the country. This is the earnest prayer of millions of
people.
(Transcribed by the Tong-Hâk men.)
[Inclosure 3 in No. 4.]
Notification issued by the Japanese
Consul.
Information having come to hand that the Tong Hâk have left their homes
in Chulla Do and Kyung-sang Do and are now on their way to Seoul, it
will be necessary for Japanese subjects to be on the qui vive. No doubt
His Majesty will notify
[Page 14]
the
Japanese representative here in time to allow the Japanese women and to
be sent safely to Chemulpo before the arrival of the Tong Hâk in Seoul;
but it will nevertheless be best not to trust to receiving the desired
information, and Japanese subjects are requested, therefore, to be ready
to remove their women and children from Seoul at a moment’s notice.
- 1.
- Should any Japanese subjects hear of any important news they are
requested to report said news to the Japanese consul without
delay.
- 2.
- Should any Tong Hâks reach the vicinity of Seoul the Japanese
subjects must be ready to send their women and children to Chemulpo
at short notice. A steamer will be telegraphed for to take said
women and children safely from Ryong San to Chemulpo.
- 3.
- All strong and able-bodied men must immediately appear at either
the Japanese police station or consulate to receive further orders
as to what they have to do.
- 4.
- His Majesty no doubt will have soldiers ready for the protection
of foreigners and Japanese, but it will be well not to depend upon
said protection.
Sugimura,
Japanese Consul.
[Inclosure 4 in No. 4.]
To the Japanese Stranger Merchants’
Hall (Consulate):
Open and see.
In the original space two elements were created (heaven and earth). Among
them man appeared, and your [lawful] boundaries were determined. And
also there arose kings and governments, the “SamKang”1 and the “O Ryun.”2 In the “Middle Land” [China] the O Ryun
hold the chief place, and the people are known as men. But those who are
not thus are savages. Therefore the literature of China has spread far
and wide, and the beneficence of the sages has gone to the ends of the
earth. The heavenly doctrine is excessively just, regarding virtue and
punishing vice. Do you not know that there is a share for you also in
this, or are you ignorant of it? When one is in, or follows, a human
religion, it is proper to remain within his national lines, protect the
people, giving what is due to the King, and aiding the people as
opportunity offers. But you covetously and officiously come and
interfere with another nation, and make quarrels your chief business,
and murder the origin [of your coming]. What spirit is this, and why do
you so? Previously, in the year Yen ch’en [1592], what unpardonable
crime had Korea committed that you should gather all Japan together and
invade Korea, returning after being completely annihilated? Sad and
miserable indeed were we! How can we forget it? We have truly against
you enmity that can not be forgotten. But what have you against us that
can hot be forgotten?
Why will you not listen a second time to the sages of the east country
(Korea)? There are still men like So San and Sa Myöng!
(Then follows an enigmatical passage.) The virtue of our Master is so
great and so wide that it has no bounds. It is large enough to embrace
even you. Will you listen to us, or injure? Heaven hates you and the
Master rebukes you. Make your choice between danger and peace. The musk
deer seeing the hunter fast gaining on him with his own mouth destroys
the musk bag.
Put not yourself where you will have to regret self-inflicted wounds. I
shall not speak again. Be off as quickly as possible to your lands.
