Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-04

New YORK, December 3.-The follow
lowing correspondence between the
Hon. ]. ]. Van Allen and the President
is made public to-day and is sef-ex-
planatory.
New PORT, R. l., November 90.
To the Hon. Walter Q. Gresham, Secre-
tGry of STATE:
SIR have the honor to acknowledge
receipt OF your letter Of the Goth Of
October in which you officially notify
me that the President, by and with the
advice aud consent Of the Senate, has
appointed me Ambassador 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 concluded to ask
you to express to the President my de-
cisiOn not to accept the Office rendered
me.
l must beg that you will not infer
from this action any lack of apprecia-
tiOn upon my part OF the honor con-
ferred. On the contrary / fully COM
prehend the dignity, Importance aud
responsibility OF the position and having
this realization, may frankly add that
the nomination is sextremely gratifying
to me-net in q personal sense merely,
| but more particularly because OF the
opportunity afforded me Of representing
my country in such a manner as
hoped might be satisfactory TO the
American people and creditable to the
administration. Among the comments
upon my nomination which appeared
in the public press, one charge
only merits attention, not be-
cause 1t was true, that because it was,
and, suppose, still is believed by many
persons unfamiliar with individuals
concerned and the facts essential to the
formation OF an accurate judgment.
| The charge that | received the appoint
ment in return for contribution Of
| $50, 900 to the Democratic national cam
| paign fund while my nomination was
pending in the Senate, IL did not
seem fitting and proper for me TO
offer moro than an explicit denial. /
was aware that as an interested party,
my statement would have little effect
beyond the limits OF my personal sc-
Quaintances. Now, however, when my
action cannot be fairly attributed to
purely selfish motives, 1t seems TO me
that repetition Of that denial which
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 fifty thousand dol
lars, but yet q considerable SUN OF
money; sincerely believing, as L did,
that continuation Of Republican su-
premacy would be not only hindrance
to national progress, but In time posi-
tive menace to the success OF popular
government, and having large interests
at stake, | was impelled by both patri-
otic and selfish reasons TO aid
the Democratic cause. So far as at
taching undue Importance TO it. was
fully aware that the contribution meant
far less TO me than the time and effort
devoted by thousands Of unsefish citi-
zens to the same campaign. Nor did |
believe that it should entitle me TO any
more consideration. On the contrary,
| l have not only admitted but
have positively insisted at all times
that It created no obligation to
me whatever, and / feel confident
| that the President, who, I'm fact, was
kind enough to say to the Democrats Of
| Rhode Island that his personal ac-
ouaintance with me enable him TO con-
sider my candidacy solely upon its
merits, will bear me out In this asser-
! tion.
On the other hand, frankly admit
that until after the appointment had
been made, II never once occurred
10 my mind that my contribution
could be used TO my injury. 1t there
! fore seems TO me sufficient TO add that
self-respect compels me to adopt the
only alternative. and to decline the high
Office to which have been appointed.
| have the honor TO be, sir,
Your obedlent servant,
GSignedl j. j. VAN ALBN.
Washington, d. c., NoUember q, 1893.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
To Hon j. j. VGn ALen:
MY DER SIR-The Secretary OF
State has submitted TO me your letter
Of the Goth inst, in which you tender
vour resignation as Ambassador 10 It.
ally. | hasten 70 express my earnest
wish that you will reconsider this con-
/ clusion. The sentiments contained in
YOUR letter do credit TO your conscience
| and Americanism, but you must allow
me 70 dissent from the application ln
this case.
did not select you for nomination
20 the Italian mission without satisfy
ing myself Of your entire fitness FOR
the place. am now better convinced
| of YOUR fitness than ever You kEow.
ana I know, that all the malignant
criticisms that have been INDUCED In
regarding this appointment has no
| justification and that the decent people
who haye doubted It's propriety have
been misled, or nave missed the actual
considerations upon which II rests. We
should not yield 70 the noise ADD clamor
which have arisen from thoEe condl-
tions.
NV personal preference should enter
yery slightly into your final deterni-
nation, but so far as l have such
preference, il Is emphatically that you
accept the honorable. Office conferred
upon you and vindlcate the discharge
| of its duties at the wisdom and pro-
pristy OF your selection.
Awaiting your early reply, lam yours
sincerely.
Isignedl GROVER CLEVELAND.
VAN ALEs's REJoEDER.
NEWPORT, r l., Nov. 2s, 1893.
To the President: