Q. And political disturbances are at an end? 
     —­A.  We apprehend nothing at all; there is no reason why we
     should.

Q. You were speaking of the necessity of the education of the laborer of the South, the negro especially.  Will you not describe to us the actual condition of the masses of the colored people in the matter of education, to what extent it has progressed, and what facilities and opportunities exist, and what additional are required?  —­A.  It varies in different sections.  For instance, Georgia, and Tennessee are probably ahead of any of the Southern States in point of educating the colored people; they have more facilities; they have negro primary schools and colleges where a man is educated.  The education that I was speaking of, more particularly for the negro, is a plain English education, sufficient to enable him to read and write.

Q. What we call up North a common school education?  —­A.  A common school education.  I will illustrate that.  Suppose a negro comes to me to make a contract that I have written for him, and he cannot read or write.  I offer that contract to him, and I read it to him.  He touches a pen and signs his mark to it; there is no obligation attached at all.  He says at once, “That man is an educated man; he has the advantage of me; he shows me that contract; I do not know what is in it; I cannot even read it.”  Therefore a contract made with a negro in that way is almost a nullity; but if he could read that contract himself and sign his own name to it, it would be a very different thing.  I never allow a negro to sign a written contract with me before he has taken it home with him and had some friend to read it over and consult with him about it, because I want some obligation attached to my contracts.

     Q. It is necessary for you as well as the negro? 
     —­A.  Necessary for my protection as well as his.

Q. How many of the negroes on the plantations can comprehend a written contract by reading it, because a man may be somewhat educated and not be able to decipher a contract?  —­A.  I cannot give you an exact proportion, for it varies to a great extent.  I can only say that that number is increasing rapidly.

     Q. From what circumstances comes this increase? 
     —­A.  From their desire to gain knowledge.

Q. Do you find that desire strong among the colored people?  —­A.  Very strong indeed; and there are two ideas which a negro possesses that give me great hopes for his future.  If I did not believe the negro was capable of sufficient development to make him a responsible small farmer, I should not want to remain in the business that I am any longer, because I believe that the development of my business is necessarily based upon the development of the negro and the cultivation