The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-06


correspondence between the Hon. J. J.
Van Allen and the president and de-
partment Of state is made public today
and is self-explanatory:
NEWPORT, R. L, Nov. 20, 1898.
ITO the Hon. Walter Q. Gresham, Sec
retary of State:
"Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge
receipt of your letter Of the 2Sth of Oct.
in which you officially notify me that
the president, by and with the advice
and consent Of the senate, has appoint
ed me ambassador to Italy. Since the
receipt Of your letter have given the
matter my most serious and careful at
tention, and as the result Of my re-
Elections, have concluded to ask you TO
express to the president my decision
not to accept the office rendered me.
II must beg that you will not infer
from this action any lack of apprecia-
tion on my part of the honor conferred.
On the contrary. 1 fully comprehend the
dignity, Importance and responsibility Of
the position, and having this realiza-
ton 1 may frankly add that the nomi-
nation was extremely gratifying to me,
not in a personal sense merely, but more
particularly because of the opportunity
afforded me Of representing my country
in such a manner as 1 hoped might be
satisfactory TO the American people and
creditable to the administration.
Among the comments upon my nom-
ination which appeared in the public
press one charge only merits attention,
not because it was true, but because it
was not, and I suppose is still believed
by many persons unfamiliar with the
individuals concerned and the facts es-
sential to the formation Of an accurate
Judgment. The charge was that 1 re-
ceived the appointment in return for a
contribution of $4,000 10 the democratic
national campaign fund. While my nom
ination was pending in the senate it did
not seem fitting and proper for me to
offer more than an explicit denial
was aware that as an interested party
my statement would have little effect
beyond the limits of my personal &C
quaintances. Now. however, when my
action cannot be easily attributed to
purely selfish motives it seems to me
that a repetition Of that denial, which
make without qualification, should be
sufficient for any honorable man.
II have not denied and do not now
deny that L have contributed to the
campaign fund-not $4,000. but yet a
considerable sum Of money, sincerely be-
lieving, as I did, that continuation of
republican supremacy would be not only
a hindrance 10 national progress, but in
time a positive menace to the success Of
popular government, and having large
interests at stake, 1 was impelled by
both patriotic and selfish reasons to aid
the democratic cause.
$50 far from attaching undue i'm
portance to it, 1 was fully aware that
the contribution meant far less to me
than the time and effort devoted By
thousands of unselfish citizens to the
same campaign. Nor did 1 believe that
it should entitle me to any more consid-
Grafton. On the contrary have not
only admitted but have positively insist
ed at all times that it created no obli-
cation to me whatever, and feel con-
fident that the president, who, in fact,
was kind enough to say to the demo-
Gratis of Rhode Island that his personal
acquaintance with me enabled him to
consider my candidacy solely upon its
merits, will bear me out in this asser-
ton.
"On the other hand, 1 frankly admit
that until after the appointment had
been made II never once occurred to my
mind that my contribution could be used
to my injury. 1t therefore seems to me
sufficient to add that self-respect COM
pels me to adopt the only alternative,
and to decline the high Office to which
1 have been appointed.
II have the honor to be, sir, your
obedient servant. J.J. VAN ALIEN"
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. %.
"The Hon. j.. ]. Van Allen:
my Dear E4--The secretary Of state
has submitted to me your letter Of the