Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-10-12
The Case of Mr.. Van Allen.
Harptr's Weekly.


Harpers Weekly.
The appointment OF j. j. Van
Allen as ambassador to Italy. has been
received with q good deal of adverse.
even indignant. criticism. If the
principal charge were true. not only
would the indignation be justified.
but the senate ought to refuse its
sanction to the corrupt bargain by
rejecting the nomination. The
charge is that Mr.. Van Allen con-
tributed $4,000 or $500 - the
amount is thus variously stated-to
the democratic campaign fund in
1892. in consideration that if Mr..
Cleveland were elected he would ap-
point Mr.. Van Allen IS minister TO
Rome. This Is the only serious and
credible charge that has been made
against the appointee. The other
accusations against him do not rise
to the dignity OF demanding a refu-
tation.
The untruthfulness OF the main
charge has been shown by William
&. Whitney in Il calm and conyinc-
ing letter to the newspaper which has
been most active in spreading it
abroad. Mr.. Whitney was said to
have made the corrupt bargain. but
he proves that there was no bargain
ut all. As for the president. the
Weekly is in a position to state that
he was ignorant that Mr.. Van Alien :
"claims" to the appointment rested
upon any other basis than his fitness
for the place, and that he was the al
most, If not quite. unanimous choice
of the democracy of Rhode Island
Mr., Van Allen is Harvard gradu-
ate and gentleman of wealth and
leisure who has lived in England and
Newport. He is devoted to society
and sports. Very recently he took an
interest in the politics of his native
country. His father was New York
merchant. and Mr.. Van Allen, him
self. married Miss Aston His en-
trance into politics was inspired by
his admiration for Mr.. Cleveland.
Beyond this ne preferred the demo-
cratic party because he did not like
the protective tariff. Mr.. Van Alien
contributed literally to the demo-
cratic campaign fund. but not as
largely as is reported, and not more
in proportion to his wealth than many
others. Afterward he was asked by
Mr.. Whitney if he would like TO be
Minister to Italy. After long de-
lay. and after Italy had raised its
mission to this country to an en-
bassy, Mr.. Van Allen was appointed.
He was recommended and urged by
the democracy of Rhode Island, who
asked for no other diplomatic APP
pointmeut.
This is the simple story of a mat
ter that has filled the daily press
with many and loud outcries, and
with much coarse personal abuse.
Unfortunately, diplomatic appoint
ments in the United States are made
on partisan grounds. Untried men,
without diplomatic training or eX-
perience, are sent abroad as repre-
sentatives of this government. So
inevitable are wholesale changes at
the incoming of a new administra-
ton that it has come to be the rule
that all ministers resign on the in
auguration of a new president Mr..
Van Aliens appointment is no worse
and no better than hundreds of
others that excited no comment.
The assumption that Mr.. Cleveland
ratified a corrupt bargain is base
less SANDER, from which his official
conduct should have protected him.
He appointed democratic partisan,
whom he found not unworthy, on
the recommendation of other demo-
cratic partisans. Whatever odium
attaches to the selection rests on the
system, not on the president.