We must annex those people. We can afflict them with our wise and beneficent government. We can introduce the novelty of thieves, all the way up from street-car pickpockets to municipal robbers and Government defaulters, and show them how amusing it is to arrest them and try them and then turn them loose -- some for cash and some for political influence. We can make them ashamed of their simple and primitive justice. We can make that little bunch of sleepy islands the hottest corner on earth, and array it in the moral splendor of our high and holy civilization. Annexation is what the poor islanders need. Shall we to men benighted, the lamp of life deny?

Summary

This quote, often attributed to American satirist Mark Twain, sarcastically criticizes the idea of annexation and colonization by suggesting the consequences it can bring. The speaker asserts that annexing people can expose them to an oppressive and corrupt government, introducing criminal activities and institutional corruption. By employing irony, the quote highlights the absurdity of annexing a foreign land under the guise of bringing progress and civilization, questioning the moral justifications for imperialistic actions. It ultimately prompts readers to reflect on the potentially detrimental impact of such interventions on indigenous populations.

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