We began to be, and we ultimately became, a great imperial power in the eighteenth century, but, during the greater part of that time, the colonies were regarded, not only by us, but by every european power that possessed them, as possessions valuable in proportion to the pecuniary advantage which they brought to the mother country, which, under that order of ideas, was not truly a mother at all . .which phrase from the excerpt most clearly shows an imperialistic attitude?

a. we ultimately becameb. under that order of ideasc. possessions valuable in proportiond. not truly a mother at all