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December 25, 1912 ] T H E I
pre-eminent place that it once held, and many
baffling inquiries as to the state of religion in
the churches will find an answer that will inspire
rather than perplex.
MR. GEORGE KENNON ON THE KOREAN
CONSPIRACY CASE.
rev. s. h. chester, d. d.
In The Outlook for December 14th, the well
known traveler and writer, M!t. George Kennan,
has an elaborate defense of the course
nursilpd bv thA .Innnnpap flnnrt in Konnl in + V| o
trial and condemnation of the Korean Christians
involved in what is known as The Korean
Conspiracy Case. As Mr. Kennan seems to
be fond of difficult undertakings, we would
like to commend to him as his next venture in
this line the vindication of The Unspeakable
Turk. An Englishman by the name of Mr.
Frederick Ryan has undertaken that task in
an article published in The Positivist of London.
But although he rises to considerable
heights of eloquence in his discussion his argument
cannot be characterized as convincing,
consisting almost entirely, as it does, of the
citation of instances in which the so-called
Christian powers of Europe have done things
which in his judgment are no better than the
things which the Turk has been doing. I do
not think Mr. Ryan, however, judging by the
extracts from his article published in the Literary
Digest, is quite the equal of Mr. Kennan
as a dialectician, and I am convinced that Mr.
Ivennan could make a better showing for the
Turk than Mr. Ryan has done.
1 would suggest to Mr. Kennan, however,
with all due respect, that in this matter he
has been doing his friends the Japanese, for
whom he has shown in several previous articles
that he possesses a rather inordinate admiration,
an injury instead o a real service. Our
contention has been, and still is, that in this
matter the trial court at Seoul has not itself
truly represented the government and people
of Japan, and in this contention we are supported
by very respectable, not to say eminent,
Japanese authority. The Jiji Shimmpo, which
has been called "The London Times of Japan,"
and winch expresses the opinion that there was
a conspiracy and thgt the prisoners were probably
guilty, says this with reference to the
copduct of the trial:
"We should have paid no attention to foreign
criticisms if only the Seoul Court had abided
by the rules of justice and fairness in all the details
of its proceedings. But however desirous
we are to regard the conduct of the Seoul
Court in a favorable light, we regret we cannot
take the side of the court. The very actions
of the court forbid it."
Mr. Kennan himself gives his whole case
away when he says: "It may fairly be said
that, from the American point of view, it
would have been beter and more equitable to
settle the question of torture in open court and
to admit freely all the testimony that the refeuse
had to offer." For him to admit that
this was not done and at the same time contend
that the prosoners had an impartial trial, and
to do this, as he says, "with some degree of
confidence," raises a serious question as to
the school in which Mr. Kennan received his
training in Christian ethics and in political
philosophy. For my part I am of the opinion
that a more modern and a more enlightened
poin of view is that of the editor of anothej*
influential Japanese paper, The Fukuin Shiml>o,
as given in an editorial discussion of the
ease in his issue of September 12th, 1912, as
follows
PRESBYTERIAN OF THE S(
"There are many regrettable features in this
affair, most especially the following: No detailed
reports of the trial were published in the
Japanese papers. Some of the accused testified
that they had been tortured and made other
extremenly damaging statements in their defense.
Ordinarily sudh things would be reported
in detail by the Tokyo papers first, and by
the papers throughout the country, tout absolutely
nothing was published. Up to the
present time, there is no convenient means of
knowing the case except through The Chronicle,
and The Japan Gazette and Daily Advertiser
of Yokohama (English newsoanersV What
is the reason for the inadequacy of the reports
of the Japanese papers on a matter of such importance
that the whole Japanese nation ought
to be thoroughly informed on the situation T
. . . Some say it is because the reporters of
the present are all agents of a certain official
who manipulates their correspondence at will.
Whether this is true we do not know, but at any
rate such tactics defeat their own purpose and
only serve to invite suspicion, doing harm beyond
expectation even to the extne of national
loss. But whatever the explanation, the Japanese
people have not been given any proper instruments
of communication in the Korean plot
case. In a sense, the public trial in this case
has ben just like a secret investicra.tv>n Thie
we regard as one of the nuost reg re table features
of the case. In this we probably voice the sentiments
of those who have followed, the references
to t'he Korean Plot Case in the papers
published in Japan, both Japanese and foreign.
. . . Ths is a proper time to sift therfe tales
of secret police torture to the very bottom. It
is highly important that this matter be cleared
up. If such, hateful practices exist, they should
be thoroughly exposed, whatever shame may be
involved, and a thoroughgoing reform must be
brought about. In our opinion, it is of extreme
importance not only to bring to trial those accused
of the plot, but also to investigate this
charge of iborture. If this question is buried
while still unanswred, it will be a great masfortune
for the country."
To any one specially interested in this case,
we will be glad, on request, to mail a copy of
'The Korean Conspiracy Case," by Dr. Arthur
J. Brown, of New York, who has published, at
the request of the Boards havisg work in Korea,
a full and thorousrh discussion of wV>oia noan
- ?a ?v*. ?? OWIVj
in which full justice has been done to all parties,
and in which nothing is to be found that could
give just ground of offense either to the Japanese
Government or to any real friend of the Japanese
people.
jjfc.
THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS JOY.
(Continued from page 1.)
on a sudden glow and splendor, and you are
elate with a high and holy purpose, you will
realize that it is his baptism of fire that has redeemed
the old ambition and set life aglow with
a new flame.
It is amazintr that the Messiah was bnm in
Bethlehem and the unconscious village heeded
it not. Yet here is a greater marvel. The
Christmas bells are sounding out the praise oi
Christ in every land; the wisest of earth lay
*heir tribute before hitn; he is the acknowledged
lord of our civilization, and we date our very
years from his birth; his transforming power
is seen in every movement of modern life; and
yet multitudes are as heedless and indifferent
s?3 if Christmas had no meaning. Pitiful indeed
is the celebration that bears his name, if amid
the holly and mistletoe, the bells and rejoicing,
the gifts and greetings, the Christ himself be
forgotten.
)OTH (1401) 11
The heart of the Christmas joy, then, is for
each of us the discovery of Christ as our
Saviour and Lord. May our eyes be opened
that we may see him, and become inheritors of
the promise, "Seek, nnd ye shall find." "Let
us now go, even unto Bethlehem," with all
ihe world, at this Christmas-tide, and lay at his
feet the tribute of our lives.?The Congrega
uanaiisi.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM A FAILURE.
(Continued from page 2.)
When such men can be praised publicly and
held up as models to members of the Catholic
Church, without protest, this reveals a very
low sense of morality.
Sixth: I was a friar for twenty-five years,
and I visited many convents and seminaries, in
various countries I became acquainted with
thousands of priests and friars. I officiated
l.ere in America, as a priest no more than six
months, and visited perhaps no more than
twelve convents and colleges. I have found
among friars and priests, in this country, more
eases of intoxication than in the whole of my
past life in other countries.
inow, let my readers draw their own conclusion.
I hope that I shall not be misunderstood. 1
have not offered these facts for the purpose of
exposing my former church. God knows how
I abhor such a thing, and how dearly I love
and pity my former brethren. The purpose I
have in view is to convince ray Protestant
brethren that, if they expect the Roman Catholic
Church to exert a moral effect on foreigners
they will, in the end, he greatly disappointed.
I am not at all afraid that Rome will ever
capture this couutry. That I consider perfectly
foolish, but I am afraid, very much
afraid, that Romanism may nullify completely,
Protestant influence and demoralize the nation.
HOW THE ROYAL COURTS OF EUROPE
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS TIDE.
(Continued from page 7.)
At the Belgian and Austrian courts the ceremonies
are of a formal kind, though the people
mark the occasion with the utmost enthusiasm.
Belgium celebrates the Christmas
season by gorgeously artistic, spectacular displays,
the cathedral procession on Christmas
Eve being, perhaps, the most extraordinary
sight in Europe.
In the sunny land of Greece, royalty observes
Christmastide cordially, the King worshipping
in the Lutheran chapel at his palace on December
25; while the Queen and royal children
attend the rites of the Greek Church on January
7.
The French Noel or Christmas is a stirring
season. In spite of the absence of a court in
the capital no city excels Paris in the joyous
abandon with which it celebrates the birth of
Christ. The Reveillon services in the Madeleine,
Trinitie, and other fashionable churches
are thronged with people, and at the close every
Parisian seems to turn out on to the boulevards
to join in the festivities. The following
day the shops offer a brilliant spectacle and all
places of amusement are thronged. At the
Elysee the French president has a family party
and Christmas tree and receives special personal
friends; and a few days later all the ambassadors
pay a visit of state to the president
at the Elysee.?.V. Y. Observer.
Bolton, England.
The proper cultivation of the art of forgetting
will at least make for one's happiness and peace
of mind.