And I may as well state here my belief that none of the dependencies acquired in the past few years should ever be States or participate in the government of the United States. We are at present responsible for them. and their education and improvement must be our care. but I think it should be well settled in the mind of the American people and well understood by them that they are not to develop into States. They differ from usin "language. institutions. and laws." they differ in religion and race and temperament. and. above all. in that hereditary selfrestraint and appreciation of the difficulties of selfgovernment which we have acquired only from the struggle and growth of a thousand years. and which is already so diluted by immigration that we sometimes question whether it is strong enough to preserve what it has won. It was because I did not believe that a. nation should be altruistic that I was opposed to our original acquisition of the Philippines. thinking that. although it was doubtless advantageous for them. it would be a burden to us. And it is because I still believe that we should not be altruistic that I think the goal to be held up before their ambition and hope should be some such independence as Cuba has. and not statehood.
Identified stereotypes
Immigrants dilute the hereditary self-restraint and appreciation of self-government.