President. aside from the question of honor involved. aside from the moral principle at issue. whether regarded from a commercial or political view. the sovereignty of the Philippines ought not to be retained. All the world knows the vast sums we are spending there. and unless history shall be reversed they will always be a care and a burden to us. After centuries of experience. after the enormous waste of blood and treasure to improve their systems of government. there is not an Asiatic colony today which is selfsustaining. If all the trade of the Philippines which will come to us because of our sovereignty is placed against the cost of wars and armies and navies their retention will involve. or if it could be weighed in the balance with the precious lives that will be sacrificed. we would turn from it as profitless and as unworthy of our mission as a people. * In a still more sordid sense this trade is valueless in comparison with its cost. for the Asiatics do not use or need or purchase American or European products except to a very limited degree. In the AngloSaxon colonies. with a population of 17.000.000. in 1897 the imports amounted to $460.000.000. while the 730.000.000 of Hindoo and Mongolian inhabitants only imported that year $530.000.000. When we turn from budgets and trade. countless obstacles arise to political union with the Filipinos. but alienage of race andcivilization and the mortal wound which it would inflict upon our free institutions suffice for me. For myself. whatever others may think. above trade. above the dream of colonial possessions. above fleets and armies and martial glory. however enrapturing. give me our race undefiled. our civilization untarnished. and our institutions uncorrupted by oppression and the lust for power.
Identified stereotypes
Asiatic colonies are not self-sustaining and Asiatics do not use or need American or European products.