

COREA. 



The following were among the resolutions 

 adopted : 



Resolved, That in favoring all reasonable means to 

 promote the cause of temperance, we protest against 

 the adoption of laws that interfere with personal rights 

 and privileges, and are sumptuary in effect. The sale 

 of intoxicating liquors should be regulated by the rea- 

 sonable fees of well-adjusted license laws, the privi- 

 lege to be granted to suitable and responsible per- 

 sons. 



Resolved, That we recognize the justice of the uni- 

 versal demand made by the working-men of this State 

 for weekly payment of wages, and we are in favor of 

 legislation tending to that object, and for the abolition 

 of contract-labor in our prisons. 



Resolved, That the vast interests in every part of 

 Connecticut in the production of seed-leaf tobacco are 

 seriously threatened by the importation of the Suma- 

 tra leaf, and we urge upon our members of Congress 

 the duty, of amending the law so as to prevent techni- 

 cal evasions and the threatened ruin to interests in- 

 volving millions of dollars. 



The vote for presidential electors at the 

 election on the 4th of November was as fol- 

 lows: Republican, 65,923; Democratic, 67,- 

 199; Prohibition, 2,305; Greenback, 1,688; 

 scattering, 6; total, 137,311. Republican Con- 

 gressmen were elected in the first and third 

 districts by pluralities of 304 and 2,462 respect- 

 ively, and Democratic Congressmen in the 

 second and fourth districts by pluralities of 

 2,016 and 153 respectively. The total vote for 

 Governor was 137,724, of which Waller re- 

 ceived 67,922; Harrison, 66,277; all others, 

 3,525. For Lieutenant-Governor the Demo- 

 cratic candidate had a plurality of 255. There 

 was a Republican plurality for Secretary of 

 State of 180 ; for Treasurer, of 83 ; and for 

 Comptroller, of 340. A majority being neces- 

 sary for the election of State officers, there was 

 no choice, and the Legislature, in joint conven- 

 tion on the 8th of January, 1885, elected the 

 Republican candidates. The Legislature of 1885 

 comprises 17 Republicans and 7 Democrats in 

 the Senate, and 160 Republicans and 88 Demo- 

 crats in the House. 



COREA, a kingdom in eastern Asia, occupy- 

 ing the peninsula opposite the Japanese isl- 

 and of Niphon, and bordering on the Chinese 

 province of Manchuria. The suzerainty of the 

 Ernperor of China is acknowledged by the 

 payment of a tribute of nominal amount, by 

 the sending of an annual mission to Peking to 

 receive the Chinese calendar, and by accept- 

 ing investiture from the Emperor when a new 

 king is enthroned. The government is an ab- 

 solute monarchy, similar to that of the Celes- 

 tial Empire in the organization of the adminis- 

 tration and the system of appointments. The 

 reigning King is Li Fin. The statesman at the 

 head of the department of Finance, Taxes, and 

 Customs, is Paul von Mollendorf, a German. 

 The population is estimated by recent visitors 

 in Corea at not over 7,000,000, or 33 to the 

 square kilometre. 



Commerce and Productions The mineral wealth 

 of Corea is great but undeveloped. The coun- 

 try in some sections is rich in cattle of an ex- 

 csllent breed. Hides are a considerable article 



COSTA RICA. 



233 



of export. Corean tobacco has been found 

 suitable for the foreign market, and good ci- 

 gars have been made by Corean workmen. 

 Lumber and grain are leading exports. Some 

 of the products of native industries are of su- 

 perior quality, notably paper of great strength, 

 blinds made of split bamboo, and straw mat- 

 ting. The foreign commerce does not exceed 

 $3,000,000 in value, and it is not likely to ex- 

 pand rapidly, because the people are poor and 

 simple in their habits. The demand for for- 

 eign goods is supplied from Shanghai by Chi- 

 nese through Newchwang, and by Japanese 

 through Nagasaki. 



Commercial Treaties. The first treaty of friend- 

 ship, commerce, and navigation concluded with 

 a western power was made with the United 

 States, May 17, 1882. Germany and Great 

 Britain immediately sent plenipotentiaries to 

 obtain the same advantages, and treaties were 

 concluded with those countries and with 

 France, on the basis of the American treaty. 

 Germany and England then pressed for a more 

 favorable tariff, and for participation in the 

 commercial privileges and rights granted to 

 China and Japan. English and German com- 

 missioners appeared at Seoul, Oct. 26, 1883. 

 After long negotiations they succeeded in get- 

 ting treaties signed, November 26. These 

 grant exterritorial jurisdiction, and allow the 

 acquisition of land for private dwellings with- 

 in a radius of five kilometres from the com- 

 mercial establishments in the three treaty 

 ports. Certain imports are duty-free ; raw 

 metals, cotton yarn, and other raw materials, 

 pay 5 per cent, duty ; shirtings and hardware, 

 7 per cent.; other costly articles, 10 per 

 cent; and a small list of luxuries, 20 per 

 cent. Navigation dues of 30 cents a ton must 

 be applied to harbor improvements, light- 

 houses, etc. In 1884 a treaty of commerce 

 was negotiated with Russia. 



Revolutionary Disturbance. An insurrectionary 

 outbreak occurred at Seoul, December 15, the 

 second disturbance since the opening of friendly 

 intercourse with foreign nations. During an 

 entertainment given by the King to the British 

 Minister, at a signal the King's son and six of 

 the ministers were murdered, and the Queen 

 also disappeared. As in 1882, the Japanese 

 were especially the object of popular fury. 

 Their legation was burned. A collision oc- 

 curred between the Chinese and the Japanese 

 guards, the result probably of a mistake, and 

 the Corean soldiery attacked both indiscrimi- 

 nately. A second set of ministers, who were 

 called by the King after the murders in the 

 palace, were likewise massacred. The King 

 then placed himself under the protection of 

 the Japanese. After the riots, the Japanese 

 withdrew to Chumul-Po. 



COSTA RICA, one of the five independent 

 republics of Central America. The area is 

 estimated at 19,980 square miles ; population 

 set down at 185,000 in an official report in 

 1874. 



