Read the excerpt from an interview with Mark Twain conducted by The Baltimore Sun in 1907 and answer the question.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe funniest thing was when at the close of the Spanish-American War the United States paid poor decrepit old Spain $20,000,000 for the Philippines. It was just a case of this country buying its way into good society. Honestly, when I read in the papers that this deal had been made, I laughed until my sides ached. There were the Filipinos fighting like blazes for their liberty. Spain would not hear to it. The United States stepped in, and after they had licked the enemy to a standstill, instead of freeing the Filipinos they paid that enormous amount for an island which is of no earthly account to us; just wanted to be like the aristocratic countries of Europe which have possessions in foreign waters. The United States wanted to be in the swim, and it, too, had to branch out, like an American heiress buying a Duke or an Earl. Sounds well, but that's all.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhich answer choice BEST explains Twain's view of American expansionism?%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AA. %0D%0AHe believed the United States had an important role to play in spreading democracy throughout the world.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AB. %0D%0AHe believed that efforts to acquire new territory must be focused on gaining access to valuable resources.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AC. %0D%0AHe believed that while human rights abuses must be punished, it was not the responsibility of any single country to address the issue.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AD. %0D%0AHe believed the country ignored the interests of other peoples and the common good, instead focusing on its own global standing.
