The Satires of A. Persius Flaccus Part 13

This is the great outlet of the rich valley of the Niger by land, and the only point of the ocean upon which the intelligent and advanced Yorubas are settled. The commerce of this part is very great, being now estimated at ten million pounds sterling. Besides all the rich products, as enumerated in another section, palm oil[7] and ivory are among the great staple products of this rich country. But as every nation, to be potent must have some great source of wealth--which if not natural must be artificial--so Africa has that without which the workshops of Great Britain would become deserted, and the general commerce of the world materially reduced; and Lagos must not only become the outlet and point at which all this commodity must centre, but the great metropolis of this quarter of the world.

Trade of Lagos

The trade of this port now amounts to more than two millions of pounds sterling, or ten millions of dollars, there having been at times as many as sixty vessels in the roadstead.

The merchants and business men of Lagos are princ.i.p.ally native black gentlemen, there being but ten white houses in the place--English, German, French, Portuguese, and Sardinian--and all of the clerks are native blacks.

Harbor Improvements

Buoys in the roadstead, lighthouses (two) and wharf improvements at the city in the bay, with steam-tugs or tenders to tow vessels over the Ogun bar-mouth or inlet, are all that we require to make Lagos a desirable seaport, with one of the safest harbors in the world for light-draught vessels.

The fish in these waters are very fine, and Ako is one of the finest natural oyster bays in the world. The sh.e.l.l-fish are generally of good size, frequently large, and finely flavored.

Religious and Philanthropic means

As a religious means, such a position must most largely contribute, by not only giving security to the Missionary cause, but by the actual infusion of a religious social element permanently among the natives of the country; and as a philanthropic, by a permanent check to the slave-trade, and also by its reflex influence on American slavery--not only thus far cutting off the supply, but, also by superseding slavery in the growth and supply of those articles which comprise its great staple and source of wealth--thereby tendering slave labor _unprofitable and worthless_, as the succeeding section will show.

Stopping the Slave Trade

As to the possibility of putting a stop to the slave-trade, I have only to say, that we do not leave America and go to Africa to be pa.s.sive spectators of such a policy as traffic in the flesh and blood of our kindred, nor any other species of the human race--more we might say--that we will not live there and permit it. "_Self-preservation_ is the first law of nature," and we go to Africa to be _self-sustaining_; otherwise we have no business there, or anywhere else, in my opinion. We will bide our time; _but the Slave-trade shall not continue!_

Means of Doing It

Another important point of attention: that is, the slave-trade ceases in Africa, wherever enlightened Christian civilization gains an influence.

And as to the strength and power necessary, we have only to add, that Liberia, with a coast frontier of seven hundred miles, and a spa.r.s.e population, which at the present only numbers fifteen thousand settlers, has been effective in putting a stop to that infamous traffic along her entire coast. And I here record with pleasure, and state what I know to be the fact, and but simple justice to as n.o.ble-hearted antagonists to slavery as live, that the Liberians are uncompromising in their opposition to oppression and the enslavement of their race, or any other part of the human family. I speak of them as a nation or people and ignore entirely their Iscariots, if any there be. What they have accomplished with less means, we, by the help of Providence, may reasonably expect to effect with more--what they did with little, we may do with much. And I speak with confidence when I a.s.sert, that if we in this new position but do and act as we are fondly looked to and expected--as I most fondly hope and pray G.o.d that, by a prudent, discretionate and well-directed course, dependant upon Him, we may, nay, I am certain we will do--I am sure that there is nothing that may be required to aid in the prosecution and accomplishment of this important and long-desired end, that may not be obtained from the greatest and most potent Christian people and nation that ever graced the world.

There is no aid that might be wanted, which may not be obtained through a responsible, just, and equitable negotiation.

Subsidizing the King of Dahomi

There is some talk by Christians and philanthropists in Great Britain of subsidizing the King of Dahomi. I hope for the sake of humanity, our race, and the cause of progressive civilization, this most injurious measure of compensation for wrong, never will be resorted to nor attempted.

To make such an offering just at a time when we are about to establish a policy of self-regeneration in Africa, which may, by example and precept, effectually check forever the nefarious system, and reform the character of these people, would be to offer inducements to that monster to continue, and a license to other petty chiefs to commence the traffic in human beings, to get a reward of subsidy.

FOOTNOTES:

[7] Nine-tenths of all the Palm Oil of commerce goes from this point.

XIII

COTTON STAPLE

Natural Elements to Produce Cotton

Cotton grows profusely in all this part of Africa, and is not only produced naturally, but extensively cultivated throughout the Yoruba country. The soil, climate, and the people are the three natural elements combined to produce this indispensible commodity, and with these three natural agencies, no other part of the world can compete.

Africans the Only Reliable Producers

In India there is a difficulty and great expense and outlay of capital required to obtain it. In Australia it is an experiment; and though it may eventually be obtained, it must also involve an immense outlay of capital, and a long time before an adequate supply can be had, as it must be admitted, however reluctantly by those desirous it should be otherwise, that the African, as has been justly said by a Manchester merchant, has in all ages, in all parts of the world, been sought to raise cotton wherever it has been produced.

Serious Contingencies and Uncertainty in American Cotton Supply

In America there are several serious contingencies which must always render a supply of cotton from that quarter problematical and doubtful, and always expensive and subject to sudden, unexpected and unjust advances in prices. In the first place, the land is purchased at large prices; secondly, the people to work it; thirdly, the expense of supporting the people, with the contingencies of sickness and death; fourthly, the uncertainty of climate and contingencies of frost, and a backward season and consequent late or unmatured crop; fifthly, insubordination on the part of the slaves, which is not improbable at any time; sixthly, suspension of friendly relations between the United States and Great Britain; and lastly, a rupture between the American States themselves, which I think no one will be disposed now to consider impossible. All, or any of these circ.u.mstances combined, render it impossible for America to compete with Africa in the growth and sale of cotton, for the following reasons:

Superior Advantages of Africa over All Other Countries in the Production of Cotton

Firstly, landed tenure in Africa is free, the occupant selecting as much as he can cultivate, holding it so long as he uses it, but cannot convey it to another; secondly, the people all being free, can be hired at a price less than the _interest_ of the capital invested in land and people to work it--they finding their own food, which is the custom of the country; thirdly, there are no contingencies of frost or irregular weather to mar or blight the crop; and fourthly, we have two regular crops a year, or rather one continuous crop, as while the trees are full of pods of ripe cotton, they are at the same time blooming with fresh flowers. And African cotton is planted only every seven years, whilst the American is replanted every season. Lastly, the average product per acre on the best Mississippi and Louisiana cotton plantations in America, is three hundred and fifty pounds; the average per acre in Africa, a hundred per cent more, or seven hundred pounds. As the African soil produces two crops a year to one in America, then we in Africa produce fourteen hundred pounds to three hundred and fifty in America; the cost of labor a hand being one dollar or four s.h.i.+llings a day to produce it; whilst in Africa at present it is nine hundred per cent less, being only ten cents or five pence a day for adult labor. At this price the native lives better on the abundance of produce in the country, and has more money left at the end of a week than the European or free American laborer at one dollar a day.

Cotton, as before stated, is the great commodity of the world, entering intimately into, being incorporated with almost every kind of fabric of wearing apparel. All kinds of woollen goods--cloths, flannels, alpacas, merinoes, and even silks, linen, nankin, ginghams, calicoes, muslins, cordages, s.h.i.+p-sails, carpeting, hats, hose, gloves, threads, waddings, paddings, tickings, every description of book and newspaper, writing paper, candle wicks, and what not, all depend upon the article cotton.

Importance of the African Race in the Social and Political Relations of the World

By this it will be seen and admitted that the African occupies a much more important place in the social and political element of the world than that which has heretofore been a.s.signed him--holding the balance of commercial power, the source of the wealth of nations in his hands. This is indisputably true--undeniable, that cotton cannot be produced without negro labor and skill in raising it.

The African Race Sustains Great Britain

Great Britain alone has directly engaged in the manufacture of pure fabrics from the raw material, five millions of persons; two-thirds more of the population depend upon this commodity indirectly for a livelihood. The population (I include in this calculation Ireland) being estimated at 30,000,000, we have then 25,000,000 of people, or five-sixths of the population of this great nation, depending upon the article cotton alone for subsistence, and the black man is the producer of the raw material, and the source from whence it comes. What an important fact to impart to the heretofore despised and under-rated negro race, to say nothing of all the other great nations of Europe, as France, for instance, with her extensive manufactures of muslin delaines--which simply mean _cotton and wool_--more or less engaged in the manufacture and consumption of cotton.

The Negro Race Sustains the Whites--Able to Sustain Themselves

If the negro race--as slaves--can produce cotton as an _exotic_ in foreign climes to enrich white men who oppress them, they can, they must, they will, they shall, produce it as an _indigene_ in their own-loved native Africa to enrich themselves, and regenerate their race; if a faithful reliance upon the beneficence and promise of G.o.d, and an humble submission to his will, as the feeble instruments in his hands through which the work is commenced, shall be available to this end.

Home Trade

The Liberians must as a policy as much as possible patronise home manufactured, and home produced articles. Instead of using foreign, they should prefer their own sugar, mola.s.ses, and coffee, which is equal to that produced in any other country, and if not, it is the only way to encourage the farmers and manufacturers to improve them. The coffee of Liberia, is equal to any in the world, and I have drunk some of the native article, superior in strength and flavor to Java or Mocca, and I rather solicit compet.i.tion in judgment of the article of coffee. And singular as it may appear, they are even supplied from abroad with spices and condiments, although their own country as also all Africa, is prolific in the production of all other articles, as allspice, ginger, pepper black and red, mustard and everything else.

Coast Trade

They must also turn their attention to supplying the Coast settlements with sugar and mola.s.ses, and everything else of their own production which may be in demand. Lagos and the Missionary stations in the interior, now consume much of these articles, the greater part of which--sugar and mola.s.ses--are imported from England and America. This trade they might secure in a short time without successful compet.i.tion, because many of the Liberia merchants now own vessels, and the firm of Johnson, Turpin and Dunbar, own a fine little coasting steamer, and soon they will be able to undersell the foreigners; whilst at present their trade of these articles in America is a mere _favor_ through the benevolence of some good hearted gentlemen, personal _friends_ of theirs, who receive and dispose of them--sugar and mola.s.ses--at a price much above the market value, to encourage them. This can only last while these friends continue, when it must then cease. To succeed as a state or nation, we must become self-reliant, and thereby able to create our own ways and means; and a trade created _in_ Africa _by_ civilized Africans, would be a national rock of "everlasting ages."