The commonwealth., 1896-08-06
THE EDITORS LEISURE HOURS

AA6 60A 4V& - 46A0 u ~ 2VVEkos
Points and Paragraphs Of Things
Present, Past and Future.
The editor of the Arena has been
giving some very interesting articles
on Whittier. One in the June num-
ber on Whittier, the Prophet of Free
don," was especially interesting, and
the article in the July number on
whittier, the Man." was also quite
interesting.
1t has been expressed by some news
papers in the State that the nomina-
ton of Tom Watson for Vice-President
by the Populists at st. Louis was not
intended to be permanent, but was only
done for trading purposes. 1t Is get
ting time that politicians would stop
trading and traffcklng in the peoples
confidence. Let us have some straight
out business in our political conven-
tions.
There has been a lively rate war re-
Gently between the Seaboard Air Line
and the Southern Railway companies,
and it promised to become still more
lively when the Southern made cut
of so per cent. on certain freight rates.
But Judge Simonton put a quietus
on the whole matter temporarily by
granting an injunction against the
rate war. The case Will be argued be-
fore Judge Simonton in GreenviIle, S.
c., August 18th.
The following from the Greenville
Reflector shows how whiskey makes
people act in Pitt county, and the
worlds map is dotted all over with
places where whlskey makes men do
the same thing. The Reflector says:
"Last Saturday afternoon L. F. An
derson, who lives about three miles in
the country, was in town. Among the
purchases he made was some whiskey
and a pistol. He put the liquor under
his shirt and the pistol in his pocket
and went home. After supper while
his wife was sitting near him, he began
fooling with the pistol and swapping it.
His wife had just demonstrated with
him for handling the weapon so care
lessly, when the usual report occurring
under such circumstances was heard
and ball passed clear through Mrs.
Anderson's neck right near the jugular
vein.
CDR. F. w. Brown was sent tor and
went out to dress the wound. He says
that it is almost miraculous that Mrs.
Anderson was not killed instantly.
However she is getting along as we'll as
could be expected and was able to ride
to town to-day to see the doctor"
There has been striking similarity
between the proceedings OF the various
national conventions that have been
held this year.
They have all had serious dissensions.
The Prohibition convention was the
first to disagree. 1t split on the money
question. The Republican convention
did the same and formidable bolt
was the result, the silver men leaving
the convention in the hands of the
gold men. Then the Democratic con-
vention experienced almost the same
thing. There was a sharp fight be-
tween the gold and silver forces, but
the silver strength easily held the con-
vent1on, notwithstanding the strong
protests of the gold men.
So nearly was there a bolt that the
gold men have been threatening ever
since to put out another national tick
ct. The Poprllsts rounded up the bus
mess by holding the last national con-
yentlon. and they had as hard fight
ing and did as strange things to keep
together as any of the others. With
40 much dissension and bitterness
amongst those of the same party house
hold it will be something strange Il
some one is not greatly surprised wher
the final result Is reached. One strlk