The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-01

Some Reasons why re Ought 20 be Au-
bnnnndor to Italy.

"Nhhhuor 70 hthtys
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Si: Your paper
has always been In favor Of fair play. and
therefore ask the privilege OF making short
statement in justification Of the appointment
OF Mr.. Van Allen to the italian mission.
My only acquaintance with Mr.. Van Allen is
from meeting him once some years agoi COM
pany with his father, who was highly esteemed
friend OF my family. but, feeling that he has
been uniusty and unrensonably assailed and
lampooned, l wish to state some facts about
him which are not generally known.
He comes from good old New York Kntcker-
booker Dutch stock. His ancestor and name
sake was half brother and law partner
OF President Martin Van Buren,. and was
County Judge OF Columbia county for many
years In the early part Of this century.
His grandfather was a retired merchant In
this city, and resided for many years. and until
his death, in st. Marks place.
His father was successful merchant In this
city. but retired with competency in carly life.
and married Miss Steward. who was the heiress
OF another successful New York merchant.
She died in the early infancy OF her only child
and heir tthe present Van hlen). leaving him
SO we'll provided for that when he attained his
majority his father. who had been his trustee.
turned over to him In securities S1.O00.O0o.
His uncle John T. Van Allen. was United
StnteS 1lnlSt6T " IVuhuOEs hppOlutou Wy
President Taylor.
At the breaking out Of the civil war his
father recruited q regiment OF cavalry. and
went to the front as their Colonel. and having
served with credit. was retired as Brigadier-
General.
Mr.. Van Aliens wealth was hon estly acquired.
and the press criticisms as to his methods Of
spending It seems to mo to be at least uncalled
for. From all can learn he spends 1t lnvishly
in this country, In q very respectable way. for
his own comfort and enjoyment. and In enter
tanning his friende. This certainly puts his
money into circulation among the people, and
10 better mode OF disposing OF 1t than miserlv
boarding. railroad wrecking. or investing in
the trusts and combines which Cypress the
community.
cannot see how it units man for the Ital-
ian mission that he chooses. as 10 charged. to
use wax candles in his bedrooms instead OF
gas or electric lights: and think that II such
q salutary practice were adopted In our city
His personal attire. about which 50 much has
been said, as also the cut Of his whiskers, are
citizen may exercise his own free viii con-
trolled only BY decency. comfort and tor Ger
tSn xtSD by " ~ he
member that less than nifty years ago man in
either as a Frenchman a fop. or fooll
He 10 dippantly called the American Prince
inasmSeh O as have - not sse yet heard Of any
scandal in which he has been Involved. and the
is ali sp ee
read. his mode Of lie, as q young American
with large fortune has been exceptionally
Coming now to the only real point Of attack,
hls liberal contribution to the general cam
eiecIon. the charge that It was made in purs
suance o! a bargain for his appointment has
by the
there only remains the politico- moral question
whether such contribution should prevent
On that score the structures OF the Repub:
lisan press are but On Illustration OF the old
q hey
deserted the Democratic party. subscribed
s20OO0 toward the election Of Grant and was
s BY celca ine fs
his paIliatins Eliza PinkstOn perjury IN the
Louisiana business in 1876 received the Rus
Viii MIR. Whitelaw Reid or Mr.. Levi T. Nor
ton consclentlously inform the public the
amount of their respective contributions TO the
tiai elections before they received their ap-
polntments as Minister to France?
ndusra" during Republican rule. ana the only
argument that can DO urged In the present
case is that two wrongs DO not make right.
have to be used. even for legitimate PURPOSES.
in our great political contests. butt has been
so. and Will continue to be SO until We reach
our political m iennium.
1t is natural. Just, and proper that the sue
cessful candidate for President in disposing o.
his appointments should select those whose
services have been valuable In securing his
election. whether those services have been
by means OF the pen. the voice. or the purse.
The only other question is that Of carability.
As Mr.. Van Alien is IN educated gentleman.
OF refined tastes. extensive travel. and accus-
toned 10 meet the highest foreign society and
as the duties OF Ambassador to Italy do not re-
Quire any great amount of genius talent or
even experience. cannot conceive Why he Is
not In every way suited to the position.
His wealth and liberal expenditure Is a rea-
son which makes his appointment peculiarly
appropriate.
] believe that permanent foreign missions
have become useless. and should be abolished.
With our present means OF communication by
telegraph throughout the globe diplomatic
communication in all ordinary matters can be
had In that way. and the routine business
done through our Legations can as we'll be per-
formed by our Consuls
But as long as our present system con-
tinues and tho salaries OF our Ministers are
80 moderate. only men OF wealth and liber-
atty can properly fulfil the duties OF the higher
missions. which are chiefly to return By enter
our representatives; and he must be a mean
American who would like to see his repre-
at foreign court limited in his
mode Of lie SO as to be a subject OF remark.
and unable from economy. to return the civil
ity shown to him in q style suitable to his
position.
For these reasons / consider Mr.. Van Aliens
appointment very appropriate one. and hope
that IL will be confirmed.
New YORK. Sept. 80. MALCOLM CAMPBELL.