Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-12-04
News BY TELEGRAPH.
From ALI Quarters.
he WJLLNOF GO TOTALLY.
J. J. Van Allen Positively De-
clines the Honor.
GAVE 4 LARGE sun TO THE FUND.
And He Says He Will Do So
Again.
HEAVY SNOW STORMS ARE RAGING.
There Are Severe Gales
On the Coast.
heavy SNOW STORMS ARE RAGING.
VAN ALIEN DECLINES.

VAN ALIEN DECLINES.
| ces Accept the Automatically t.
Italy Even Though Urged TO DO 81
by the President-He Admits Tina
He Contributed a Large Sum to thu
Campaign Fund.
New York, Dec. 3.-The following let
ter to Secretary Gresham from Mr.. ]. j
Van Allen. under date of Newport, No
vember 30, Is made public:
81 have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of October %, ir
which you officially notify me that tht
president, by and with the advice and con
sent of the senate, has appointed me am
bassador to Italy. Since the receipt Of
your letter have given the matter my
most serious and careful attention, and, as
the result of my reflections, have con,
cluded to ask you to express to the presi.
dent my decision not to accept the Office
rendered to me-"
Mr.. Van Allen states that he does not de
cline the Office because of lack of appre-
citation of the honor conferred. He says
the nomination was particularly crafty
ing to him, because of the opportunity af-
fordsd him of representing his country In
such manner az he hoped might be salts
factory to the American people and credit
able to the administration. He then refers
to the charge that he received the appoint
ment in return for contribution of fifty
thousand dollars to the democratic national
campaign fund and says:
ri have never denied, and do not now
deny, that contributed to the campaign
fund-not fifty thousand dollars, but yet a
considerable Gum of money. Sincerely be-
lieving, as I did, that continuation of re-
publican supremacy would be not only a
hindranoe to national progress, but in time
a positive menace to the success of popular
government, and having large interests at
stake, was impelled by both patriotic and
selfish reasons to aid the democratic cause.
the first time had assisted the party since
Mr.. Cleveland's aggressive leadership
aroused my admiration, and I do not hest
tate to say that If 1t shall again seem to be
my duty as citizen DESTROYS of the best
government 1t will not be my last.
$50 far from attaching undue Importance
to 1t was fully aware that the contribu-
ton meant far less to me than the time
and effort devoted by thousands of un-
selfish citizens to the same campaign. Nor
did I believe that it should entitle me to
any more consideration. On the contrary
I have not only admitted, but have posi-
lively insisted at all times that it created
no obligation to me whatever. On
the other hand I frankly admit, until after
the appointment had been made it
never once occurred to my mind that
contribution cOn16 ha uaad To INV
injury. may add that although 1 have
endeavored to study without bias the ar
guments which have been advanced, can
not even now perceive that 1t Ia less cred
liable or patriotic for one to aid with his
means q cause in which he believes, than
with his voice or pen.
"But whatever may be the correct con-
clusion regarding the ethics of the case, the
fact remains that large number of my
fellow citizens have been led, either by CO.
incidence of circumstances or by false re-
port, to look upon my appointment as in
some way inconsistent with the professions
of the democratic party and the presidents
high ideas of public service.
do not think that I could now remove
this impression from the minds of many
right minded and thoughtful people whose
judgment, I frankly admit, may possibly
be correct. At all events, it is clear that
find myself in a false position with refer
ence to this Office and appointment.
acceptance of the Office would make
me appear willing for the sake of personal
qualification to diecredit in the minds of
many the political party to which am at
tached and to bring undeserved rebuke
upon the administration which has honored
me and whose success 1 earnestly desire
It, therefore, seems to me sufficient to add
that self-respect compels me to adopt the
only other alternative and to decline the
high Office to which l have been ap-
pointed"
The following letter from President
Cleveland to Mr.. Van Allen, dated Wash
ington, November %, has also been made
public:
''My Dear Sir-The secretary of state
has submitted to me your letter of the Goth
inst, in which you tender your resigna-
ton as ambassador to Italy. l hasten to
express my earnest wish that you will re-
consider this conclusion. The sentiments
contained in yonr letter do credit to your
conscience and Americanism, but you
must allow me to dissent from their sppli-
cation in this case. I did not select you
for nomination to the italian mission
without satisfying myself of your entire
fitness for the place. l ana now better
Z.
know and 1 know that all the malignant
criticism that has been INDUCED in regard
ing this appointment has no justification
and that the decent people who have
doubted its propriety have been misled or
have missed the actual consideration upon
which 1t rests. We should not yield to the
noise and clamor which have arisen from
these conditions.
"My personal preference should enter
very slightly into your final determine
lions, but so far have such preference, 1t
is emphaticslly that you accept the honor
able Office conferred upon you and vindi-
cate by the discharge of its duties the wis
dom and propriety of your selection.
Awaiting your early reply am,
Yours Sincerely,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
In his reply to the president, dsted New
port. November 25, Mr.. Van Allen says:
"For the reasons I have already stated