Final answer:
Without the specific excerpt, Otis was likely responding to political reforms, but the context is needed for a definitive answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the excerpt, Otis was likely responding to c. Political reforms. This estimate is based on historical context, as Otis is a name often associated with debates around political changes. Unfortunately, without the specific excerpt and time period referred to, it's challenging to provide a definitive answer to the student's question. Given the options and typical historical associations, I've selected 'Political reforms' as the most probable subject Otis was responding to. However, it is crucial to look at the specific context provided in the passage to determine the correct answer.