St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-05-11

Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa. -
No one knows better than the
English that "the worm is turn
ing and that colonial life is on its
last legs. The recent visit of the
Queen and her Consort was proof
of this conclusion on the part of
the Colonial government.
During her visit here the queen
drove in open car all the way from
Lagos to nbadan in an effort to
convince the peasants that she
loved them; but despite the devo-
ton to her subjects, Her Majesty
and England know that Nigeria
means more economically and in
every way to England that Eng
Ian means to Nigeria.
1t was because OF a last des-
perate desire to preserve her tot
tering economy that Her Males
TVS government rislxed countless
millions upon the peanut industry
shortly following the loss of India.
That hot dusty ride between Lagos
and Adaban was a futile effort to
save Englands basic supply of oils
and fats, and not because the
queen and her gay hubby wanted
TO see the dirty, steaming Yoru-
has.
England secures her palm kerr
nels and ground nuts from Nj
geria. There was talk sometimes
ago in America that if England
could not counterpart in Africa
what she had annually been with
drawing from India, that at least
half the English people would
have to immigrate from the Brit
ish Isles to Canada and other dis
taRt points OF the universe where
England still holds sway.
This was why we say that "the
worm is turning and that the
African apple that has remained
so long in che barrel, in perfect
condition, is beginning to rot.
England now knows that IL
these hitherto helpless Africans
can under the leadership of strong
men like Prime Minister Azikiwe
of the Eastern Region. and Prime
Minister Awolowo, of the Western
section, wrest their economy from
their exploiters, the Jig is up.
In this mystic land there is vast
wealth in the basic commodities
upon which the world feeds. For
several centuries colonialism has
stood at the gateway of her ter
rtories, fixing the price for which
these commodities will be sold on
world markets, and supplying the
natives with nothing more than
mere subsistence for the terrible
labor and toll they have invested
in these colossal world treasures.
There has never been a fair ex-
change for these priceless goods,
and since I have been here I have
seen, even in this hour when indie
pendence is just a breath away
native boys not out Of their teens
carrying 1OO-pound sacks Of CO.
Goa, palm nuts and castor seeds on
their heads for a few pence a day.
Back Of the facade Of interest
the queen gave expression TO quite
recently, is the futile desire TO
continue a way Of life, as South
erners in Florida and Mississippi,
seek to retain their traditional
control over wages paid the sons
Of former slaves in their area. II
is the same cruel whip Of material
ism one finds everywhere he goes.
OF course colonialism has had
its advantages as well as its dis
advantages. One can see here in
the Mainland hotel, where I am
stopping evidences Of an incipient
arousal OF a middle class, which is
slowly growing. Young Nigerians,
well dressed. come here and sit in
the lobby, drinking and meditat-
ing.
There is positively no segrega-
ton, and the cocoa planters, which
is the rising group, come here to
consult with exporters. They are
moving slowly, but they have ac-
curately set their goals
Colonialism has taught the en-
terpnsing native that he can re-
tain his energy to advance in air
cooled temples Of pleasure, such as
the eXploiters have set up here.
Through the ages, there has been
no opportunity to associate their
ideas and visions with men Of alien
cllmss, but now he is awakening.
watched a woman this eve
ming who came TO the hotel to wait
for her husband She was a.
dorned in diamonds, and wore an
expensive dress that would do
credit to Fifth Avenue in New
York. I had nothing to do but
watch her al a distance. At long
last, a Nigeran came in, attired
in native costume. The robe he
gathered around him was the most
Respondent have seen since com
ing here I watched them for more
than an hour. The man had dig