The herald., 1893-12-04
VAN ALIEN BACKS down.
He Doesn't Want the Italian
Ambassadorship.
His Resignation in the Hands
of the President.
Cleveland Insists on His Retaining
the appointment.
Tho Appointee Yields to Public seuti.
ment and Decides to Stand
From Uuder-That $4,000
Contribution.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81. ]. Van Allen
will not go to Italy as United States am
bassador. He respectfully declines to
accept the appointment, and in spite OF
the presidents request that he recon-
slider this determination, he firmly de-
clines. The correspondence was made
public. Under date of Newport, Novem-
ber Goth, Van Allen writes Secretary
Gresham acknowledging the great honor
conferred. but after serious and careful
reflection decides not to accept. In his
letter Van Allen refers to the public
charge that he received the appoint
ment in return for a $4,000 contribu-
tion to the Democratic campaign fund.
He does not deny having contributed,
not $50, ,000 but considerable sum of
money, but always insisted that it cre-
ated no obligation whatever to him. He
feels confident that President Cleveland,
who was kind enough to say to the
Rhode Island Democrats that his per-
Honal acquaintance enabled him to con-
slider the appointment solely on personal
merits, will bear him out in this state
ment.
Under date of November 22d the pres.
ident writes as follows:
Hon. ]. ]. Allen:
My DEAR SIR-The secretary OF state
has submitted to me your letter of the
Goth instant, in which you tender your
resignation as ambassador to Italy. /
hasten to express my earnest wish that
you will reconsider this conclusion.
The sentiments contained in your letter
do credit to your conscience and Ameri-
canism, but you must allow me to dis
sent from their application in this case.
did not select you for nomination to
the Italian mission without satiefying
myself of your entire fitness for the
place. I am now better convinced OF
your fitness than ever. You know, and
know, that all the malignant criticism
1 that has been indulged in regarding
this appointment has no justification,
and that decent people who have doubt
ed its propriety have been misled or
have missed the actual considerations
upon which it rests. We should not
yield to the noise and clamor which
have arisen frcm those conditions. My
personal preference should enter very
slightly into your final determination,
but so far as l have such preference 1t is
tnaJ you accept bne nouOraDle 6tuco COLI
ferred upon you, and vindicate by the
discharge of its duties the wisdom and
propriety of your selection.
Awaiting your early reply, am,
yours sincerely, GROVER CLEVELAND.
November 26th Van Allen writes from
Newport, thanking the president for
the very kind and fsttering sentiment
expressed, but stating that, for the rea-
son already given in his former letter,
and after long and serious consideration,
feels he cannot accept the appointment.
Van Allen concludes his letter as follows:
"My only regret in this decision. which
l must beg you to consider final, ia that
it is contrary to the personal preference
which you go kindly express. But I
cannot think it would be advisable for
me to invite further misrepresentation
by taking advantage OF your generosity.
Again thanking you for your most gra-
cious words, and with the earnest hope
for continuance of the successes which
have already marked your second ad-
ministration, beg to remain, ETC."