> the most benign European imperialists. "most benign" does not equal "least worse". sure, they didn't violiently decimate the native populations, salmonella

> the most benign European imperialists. "most benign" does not equal "least worse". sure, they didn't violiently decimate the native populations, salmonella took care of that on its own. And instead of violently killing the remaining natives they raped and enslaved them (as compared to just murdered them). That is not benign in any way, shape, or form.