The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-04
.HE DECLINES The MISSION
Nj. Van Allen Sends IN His Resiena-
tion as Ambassador.
WHEN ASKED TO RECONSIDER
lie Answers Be Does Not Think Il
Advisable to Invite Further Mis-
representation and Adheres to His
First Letter Declining Mission.

NEW YonK, Dec. 4-The following cor.
respondence between Hon 3. J. Van Allen
and the president and department of state
Is made public and is self explanatory:
NEWPORT. r. l., Nov. 20. 1893.
To the Hon. Walter q. Gresham, Secretary of
State:
sIR-I have the honor TO acknowledge re-
ceipt of your letter of the 2Sth of October, in
which you officially notify mo that the presi-
dent, by and with the consent OF the senate.
has appointed me ambassador to Italy. 1
have given the matter my most serious and
careful attention. and. as the result of my re-
iiections. have concluded 10 ask you 10 express
20 the president my decision net to accept tho
Office rendered me.
must beg that you will not infer from this
action any lack OF appreciation on my part OF
the honor conferred. On tho contrary, / fully
comprehend the dignity, importance and re-
sponsibllity of tho position, and, having this
realization, may frankly add that the nomi-
nation wes extremely gratifying to me-not in
personal sense merely, but more particu-
larry because OF the opportunity afforded me
Of representing my country IN such manner
as hoped might be satisfactory TO the Amer
lean people ana creditable to the administra-
tion.
Among the comments upon my nomination
which appeared in the public press, one
charge only merits attention. The charge
was that received the appointment in re-
turn for a cont-xtltion of $4,000 to the Demo-
cratic national campaign fund. While my
nomination was In the senate it did not seem
fitting and proper for me TO offer more than
an explicit denial Now, however. when my
action cannot be fairly attributed to purely
selfish motives, IL seems to me that repeti-
tion of that denial, which l make without
qualification, should be sufficient for any
honorable man.
/ have never denied, and do not now deny,
that contributed TO the campaign fund-not
$4,000. but yet considerable sum of money.
/ did not do so until l had made myself ia
miliar with the methods of the campaign, as
conducted by the national Democratic com
mittee / visited the Democratic head
quarters and was shown the great work being
done.
An expenditure vast in proportion was being
made 10 bring home 10 the American people
the truths upon which the welfare Of the
country depended. Hundreds OF speakers, too
poor 10 pay their own expenses, were being
helped 20 do patriotic duty by the national
committee and vast amount OF literature
was being distributed free 20 awaken the
public mind on the questions pending in the
campaign. The Democratic party had no
favored interests TO assist and was obliged to
rely on individuals for necessary financial
assistance. Hence my contribution.
/ frankly admit that until after the appoint
ment had been made, II never once occurred TO
my mind that my contribution could be used
to my injury. | may add that, although /
have endeavored 10 study without bias the
arguments which have been advanced, can
NOT even now perceive that ii is any less cred
table or patriotic for one 10 aid with his
means cause in which he believes than with
his voice or pen.
My fitness for the position has been gener-
ally conceded, but the fact Of my contribution
to the campaign fund has been considered as
makingit improper for me TO conceive this
appointment.
At all events il is clear / find myself in
false position with reference 10 this Office and
appointment. 1t therefore seems TO me sufil-
cient to add that self-respect eompels me to
adopt the only alternative, and TO decline tho
high Office TO which have been appointed.
/ have the honor 10 be, sir,
Your obedient servant,