The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-03-27

bined with profundity of insight, which must
place the prophet of Nazareth in the very first
rank Of men of sublime genius, whom our
species can boast
Tennyson said. in ." In Nemoriam:'
"Strong Son of God Immortal love,
Whom we, that have not seen thy face,
By faith and spirit alone embrace.
Believing where we cannot prove,
Thou seemest human and Divine,
The highest. holiest manhood thou,
Our wills are ours, we know not how
Our wills are ours, to make them thine
The Opera House was crowded last Friday
night with people eager to listen TO Rev.
George H. Vibbert and Wayne B. Wheeler
on the drink problem. Messrs. Thompson,
Furry, Farchild and Mishler, of the City
Council, took seats on the stage The Mayor
telegraphed his regrets from Canton, and in
his absence, H. B. Dickinson presided, pre-
facing his introduction of the speakers with
some very excellent remarks.
The meeting was called primarily for the
purpose of popular discussion of the saloon
in its relation to the business interests of
Ravenna, in pursuance of which object, in
town to be present and express their senti-
ments freely and fearlessIy on the subject,
whether for or against the institution. 1t is
hardly necessary to say that the speaking
was confined to the orators on the stage.
| So far as the arraignment of the barroom
was concerned, and the exposition of its
character from a prOhibtory standpoint
there was no occasion for further indictment
on the part of the individual attendant, The
| drinker and seller both come in for their
| share of condemnation, and passing from
the moral culpability charged against the
participants, thespeakers attacked the saloon
in its bearings on the financial. industrial
and business interests of the particular town
or community subject to Its presence. 1t was
thorough treatment, and one could hardly
imagine anything between the covers of
business arithmetic" left uLsaid or un-
| demonstrated.
Inasmuch as no one appeared on the other
side of the question, the statements and con-
clusions of the abolition advocates remained
unchallenged, and were necessarily accepted
by the audience, in the absence of cOntradic-
tory evidence or logic.
er, between Rev Vibbert and Mr.. Wheeler
The former does not sanction the licensing
or permissory taxation of saloons, while the
latter has no objection to taxing them for
purposes of regulation, dimInution, and in.
cidental revenue, until public sentiment
DEGREES their extinction.
"Better have free whisky than taxed whis
ky" says Mr.. Vibbert. He does not believe
in partnership with crime"
"Work for prohibition" says Mr.. Wheel
er, but take what you can get in the mean
time"
The answer to two questions submitted tc
Rev. VIbbert at Saturdays meeting, will
indicate more fully his ideas on this phase
of the subject.
To the first question, "Do you think i
possible to legislate temperance sentimen
into people?" he replied substantially a:
follows: did anyone ever hear that Moses
inquired of Israel whether the moral scnti
ment' of the tribes would sustain the ter
commandments, before adopting it as thu
law of his people? Law" said he, cough
to be above and in advance of public sentI
ment. 1t should always represent the high
est thought of the best people. The vote o
woman alone would 'legislate Temperance
sentiment into the people, The Dow Law
does not represent the highest sentiment 0
the people. Put none but righteous laws OIL
f our statute books, and they will vindcat
| themselves, and ultimately raise the peOp
to their standard. Legislators can always d.
this if they have mind to, and | know ther
h are enough temperance minded people il
Ohio, if only they would arouse and unit
d themselves, to send majority of uprigh
y people to the legislative halls"
IT In response to the second question, GAS
It suming the present sentiment in Ohio to b
p stronger for than against the saloon, do yO
= not think legislation embodying the essen
Y tial features of the late Tilnlan law of Sout
= Carolina would be practicable and desirabl
, | until the sentiment should change so lis
), warrant prohibition, provided, of course
such ii law could be sustained IN the courts?
he said: THE same objection | raise agains
:, the Dow law l urge with equal emphasi
against the Tilman scheme, namely: Stat
partnership with crime; only in the latter
is full proprletorship of crime, instead {
partial. 1t is never right for Il State to hay
any completely with wrong"
The addresses of the two speakers Frida
evening were listened to with profound a
d tention by the large audience. Mr.. Wheele
= reviewed the work In Ohio, and read larg
IS number of statements and opinions froI
IS business men in various parts of the State
relative to the effects of the saloon on bus
F ness. 1t was the same story everywhere
d commercially injurious, and detrimenta
to every other kind Of business"
+ Rev. George H. Vibbert's main purpos
e was to prove that the "One idea" of the ten
e perance reform i, very comprehensive.
e 1. Manufacturers and all employers
labor are heavily taxed and greatly uurde1
A ed when saloons are open. They are not abl
to fill their contracts so thoroughly an
" readily when their workmen frequent th
# saloons. Instances were cited concernin
q leading employers of labor in different state
q and in Great Britain, to show that the saloo
70 is the deadly enemy alike of capital and |;
bor.-2. The money spent for drink woulC
if saloons were shut, be largely used for foo
. and clothing, and home peace and the priv
ilegeS of civilization. So merchants los
custom, and are troubled by bad debts. Th
saloon is the enemy of all but the ductor an
D the undertaker.-3. Twenty per cent of GU
u idiots, forty per cent of our lunatcs, sever
e ty-ive per cent of our criminals, and fror
c seventy to ninety per cent OF our paupel
e are made SO by drink, and the taxpayer
e must pay the biIIs.-4. There need not b
still machinery and idle men If the none
now spent for drink We're used properly.
If the people would vote as they talk an
n pray, the saloons would be shut.
'i Saturday afternoon Il County Anti-Saloo
: League was organized, with Rev. Andre
e Wilson President, w. J. Shrop Vice Pres
dent, and IL. b. Dickinson Secretary, all {
+ Raveuna. There were thirteen township
e represented, viz: Atwater, CharlestowI
e Freedom, Kent, Mantua, PARIS, Randolph
If Rayenna, RoOtotOwn, Streetsboro, Shalers
, vile, Sutfield Windham.
. Rev. Wilson in accepting the Office, sal
:, | in doing so, he meant business - and if an