The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-08-22

The Methodist Church was filled with in
terested audience Sunday night, who listened
with profound attention to the words of Hon.
S. A. LANE, of Akron, at the union temperance
service held under the direction of the Ohio
Anti-Saloon League.
Preceding the address of Mr.. Lane, Rev. S.
w. Meek occupied exactly six minutes in giving
the synopsis of a recent interview with State
Superintendent Russell or "telling you the
news, as Mr. Meek very happily put it. The
substance of the news" is that the League is
better equipped than ever for solid aggressive
work. 1t is expected that IA able speakers will
in the course of the near future be sent out
through the State in the interests of the cause
represented by the League. 1t will be faithfully
endeavored to have a sufficient number of State
| Representatives and Senators elected to the
General Assembly at its next session to insure
| the passage of bill embodying the Haskell
measure, turned down by the late Republican
| Legislature. To accomplish this, the work of
organizing, educating and agitating. will go on
uninterruptedly and public temperance senti-
ment created, if possible, during the two years
intervening between the present time and the
next session of the Legislature, that its members
will not dare to ignore or trif1e with.
| At the conclusion of Mr.. Meeks remarks Mr..
Lane ascended the pulpit, and for over hour
spoke with potent thought and expression on
the subject of the evening. He has, in addition
to vigorous mentation and forcible diction, a
fund OF keen, ready humor with which he inter-
spersed his interesting remarks.
| This venerable worker in the ranks of reform
is in his 3oth year, but stands more erect and
speaks in frmer tones than many people who
have not seen as many years within quarter OF
a century. His life has been very busy and
eventful one, and as he said one which has been
given unusual opportunities for observation.
He dwelt with particular earnestness the
lack of moral courage that dissuades SO many
citizens, in other respects honorable and straight
forward, from appearing against liquor venders
when arraigned before the Bar of Justice. The
old gentleman fails, however, TO see the identity
of the tax system embodied in the Dow law
and the license system forbidden by the consti-
tuition, regarding the present tax as much in the
light of punishment for carrying on the traffic
as anything. To most minds, paying for priv
ilege would appear to amount to license. how
ever distinguished in a linguistic sense. But the
octogenarian speaker addressed himself to his
subject with telling effect and discovered talents
and powers that must have made him more
than ordinarily forcible and entertaining speaker
on the platform, when in the physical prime o.
his life.
His review of his life peculiarly interest
ing to the older residents of the community who
were present to hear him, as he detailed or men
toned many scenes in which he figured while
resident of Ravenna during the 3os. Equally
interesting was his picture of the Temperance
morals of those early days. and the causes tina
led up to the clause of the State Constitution
adopted in 1852, which forbids the granting O
licenses for the sale of intoxicants.
In conclusion, he spoke of this, probably hi
last public address, delivered in very shor
distance of the place where he had made hi
first one, over so years ago.
The music for the service was furnished b
the Ravenna Male Quartette.