The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-04
AnsAssA Don VAN ALIEN RESIGNS.


ne VUeye the WAN OF the People, In
Spite OF Cleveland.
WasHrSeroS CirY, Dec. 81. ]. Van
Alien will not go to Italy as United States
ambassador. He respectfully declines to
accept the appointment, and in spite Of
the presidents request that he reconsider
this determination he firmly declines.
The correspondence was made public to-
day. Under date Of Newport. November
% Van Allen writes to Secretary Gresham,
acknowledging the great honor conferred,
but after serious and careful reflection de-
cides not 10 accept. In his letter Van
Alien refers to the public charge that he
received the appointment in return for
$4,000 contribution to the Democratic
campaign fund. He does not deny having
contributed, not $50. 900. but considerable
sum of money. but always insisted that It
created no obligation whatever to him. He
feels confident that President Cleveland,
who was kind enough to say to the Rhode
Island Democrats that his personal ac-
qnaintance enabled him 10 consider the
appointment solely on personal merits,
will bear him out in this statement
Under date of November q the presi-
dent writes as follows:
"Hon. J. ]. Van Alen--Ky Dear Sir:
The secretary of state has submitted to
me your letter OF the Goth, in which you
tender your resignation as ambassador to
Italy. / hasten to express my earnest
wish that you viii reconsider this conclu-
sion. The sentiments contained in your
letter do credit ~ your conscience and
Americanism, but you must allow me to
dissent from their application IN this case
l did not select you for nomination to the
Italian mission without satisfying myself
of your entire fitness for the place. | am
now better convinced of your fitness than
ever. You know and know that all the
malignant criticism that has been in
dulged in regarding this appointments has
no justification. and that decent people
who have doubted its propriety have been
misied or have missed the actual consider
ations upon which 1t rests. We should
not yield to the noise and clamor which
have arisen from those conditions. NY
personal preference should enter very
slightly into your final determination.
but, so far as l have such preference, it is
emphatically that you accept the honor
able Office conferred upon you and vindi-
cate by the discharge Of its duties the wis.,
dom and propriety of your selection.
Awaiting your early reply, am, yours
sincerely, GROVER CLEvELAND."
November Is Van Allen writes from New
port thanking the president for the very
kind and fiattering sentiments expressed,
but stating that. for reasons already given
In the former letter. and after long and
serious consideration, he feels he cannot
accept the appointment Van Alien con-
cludes his letter as follows:
"My only regret in this decision, which
l must beg you to consider final. is that il
IS contrary to the personal preference
which YOU SO kindly express. But | can
not think IT would he advisable for me TO
invite further misrepresentations by TAX
ing advantage of your generosity. Again
thanking you for your most gracious
words, and with earnest hope for continu-
ance OF the successes which have already
marked your second administration, beg
to remain, etc