Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-08-11
JUSTICE BREWERS VIEWS.
HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT WE
WANT THE PHILIPPINES.
Peace Now Certain-Cuba Grave Re-
sponsbility Porto Rico and Hawaii
Observation-Disclosures Freight
ed With Untold Dangers.

Justice ID. ]. Brewer of the Supreme
Court arrived in this city Tuesday night
from Washington, accompanied only by
his messenger. lie remained in this city
over night and went yesterday to North
Hero to visit Mrs. Brewers early home be-
fore opening his summer cottage at
Thompson's Point, where he will spend
the remainder of the summer. Justice
Brewers visit to Vermont this year Is, in
many respects, one of sadness. Mrs
Brewer, who has heretofore been his COM
panion, died last spring.
Justice Brewer consented to discuss the
war and the peace negotiations with a
Free Press reporter in the evening, and his
views upon the subjects now of moment
GUS interests, will be read with cagerness
by thinking people. He said: Peace is
now certain. l do not know what tine
terms will be and | can only guess at
what may be agreed upon by the two ma
! tions They will compel the surrender of
Porto Rico to us and the evacuation of
Cuba by the Spanish. The evacuation of
Cuba brings to US as nation grave
responsibility and the aftermath of the
contest may prove much more troublesome
than was the war itself. We proclaimed
when the resolution passed the American
Congress that we would free Cuba and
that we did not want 1t ourselves. Now If
we drive the Spanish from Cuba and leave
her without any forcible interference 1t
will be a greater ruin than TO have left
the Spanish there. We owe II to Cuba to
preserve. order by force whether it may be
one, two or five years, until she shall
prove herself capable Of sef-governmcnt,
/ believe that to leave Cuba without an
established government to hold her people
in check would be to precipitate horrors
worse than those of the French revolution.
Our obligation to Cuba is not fulfilled un-
til the complete establishment of a self
government.
Taking possession of Porto Rico is
called by men Of the army and navy a
wise precaution / suppose every civilian
should abide by their judgment. We have
however, to manage the island, which is a
matter of gravest difficulty. The inhdbi-
tants are not fit for self-government. The
colonial administration, such as European
nations have established. seems to MS a
violation of our ideas of self-government
i suppose we have to try 1t, though
The possession of Hawaii seems justi.
| fled by the arguments of military and
naval gentlemen that the people are easy
! of government and not turbulent or quar-
relsome. / think Senator Hoar's speech
upon this matter is the best resume OF
the subject pro and con which l have
ever seen,
80 far as the Philippines are concern.
ed, some gentlemen high In ability have
told us that we must at least have a
4 coaling station there. Beyond that, while
we do not know the Presidents views
upon the matter. I think we should be re-
lieved from responsibility as soon as We
can fairly. l am directly opposed to the
introduction of the colonial system in that
portion of the country 1t is not a mere
matter of territory or distance. We TOOK
Alaska, but its population is small ant
their coming in as part OF
our country did not affect us
but to bring from six to ter
millions of ignorant savages in as a par
of our national existence is. to my mind
freghted with untold dangers, If we car
get rid of the responsibility and do justice
to the people there, hope we shall do so
l believe in following the advice of George
Washington to avoid all entangling al
liances,' and In the Monroe doctrine"