There is, however, one consideration upon which we should insist.

Either we should retain complete control of the islands, or absolve ourselves from all responsibility for them.

Any half and half course would be both foolish and disastrous.

We are governing and have been governing the islands in the interests of the Filipinos themselves.

If after due time the Filipinos themselves decide that they do not wish to be thus governed, then I trust that we will leave; but when we do leave it must be distinctly understood that we retain no protectorate--and above all that we take part in no joint protectorate--over the islands, and give them no guarantee, of neutrality or otherwise; that, in short, we are absolutely quit of responsibility for them, of every kind and description.
The Filipinos were quite incapable of standing by themselves when we took possession of the islands, and we had made no promise concerning them.