The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-12-04
RIDICULED OUT OF IT
Van Allen Throws Up His Job as AM
baSsad0r TO Italy.
CLEVELAND URGED HIM ON
Jokes and Jibes. Cartoons and
Criticisms Get In Their Deadly
Work and Make Him Very.
Very Tired.

whsHiS6roS, Dec. 81. ]. Van Allen
will not 20 to Italy as United States am
bassador. lie respectfully declines to ac-
ccpt the appointment, aud in spite of tho
presidents request that he reconsider this
determination, he firmly declines. The
correspondence was made public to-day
Under date OF Newport. Nov. 70, Van Allen
writes Secretary Gresham acknowledging
the great honor conferred, but after seri-
Gus and careful reflection decides not to
accept. In the letter Van Allen refers to
the public charge that he received tho ap-
pointment IN return for n $4,000 contribu-
ton TO the democratic campaign fund.
He does not deny having contributed, not
S5o,Op. but n considerable sum of money.
but he always insisted that it created no
obligation whatever to him. He fcels con-
iident that President Clev Gland, who was
kind enough to say to the Rhode Island
democrats that his personal acquaintance
enabled him to consider the appointment
solely on his personal merits, will bear
him out in this statement. Under date OF
Nov. ~ the president writes as follows:
Hon. j. i. Van Iien.
Nv DshR sIR:-Thc secretary OF state has
submitted Ia me your letter OF the 10th inst. In
which You tender your resignation as ambassa-
dor 10 italy. hasten 10 express my earnest
wish that YOU will reconsider this conclusion.
The sentiments contained In your letter do
credit Ia your conscience aud Amer1canism. but
You must allow me to dissent from their appli-
cation Ia this ease ] did not select you for
nomination To tho Italian mission without salts
f,ing myself Of your entire fitness for the place.
! am now better convinced OF your fitness than
ever. You know, and know, that all the ma
llgnant criticism that has been INDUCED In re-
gardnc this appointment has no justification.
and that derent people who have doubted ils
propriety have been msled, or have missed tho
actual considerations upon which IL rests. We
should not yield TO the noise and clamor which
have arisen from those conditions. My per-
sonai preference should enter very slightly into
Your inal determination, but 80 far As have
| such a preference, it is "mphatlcally that YOU
| accept the honorable office conferred upon YOU
and ,ndicaie by the discharge Of ITS duties tho
wisdom and rropricty OF your selection. Await
Ing your early reply, am yours sincerely,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
On Nov. " Van Alien writes from New
port. thanking the president for the very
kind and nattering sentiments expressed.
| but stating that for the reasons already
given in his former letter, and after n long
and serious onsidcration, he feels he can-
not accept the appointment. Van Allen
concludes the letter as follows:
| Nv only regret In this decision. whlrh I mus.
beg you TO consider final, Is that IL Is contrary
| TO the personal preference which you kindly
| express. But cannot think Il would lie adyis-
able for M. TO invite further misrepresentation
| hy taking advantage Of your generosity. Again
| thanking you for YOUR most gracious words, and
| with an earnest hone for the continuance of the
| successes which have already marked your sec.
| ond administration, beg 10 remain, etc.