The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-30
The Van Allen Scandal.

NO van AAcu CChuuats
Commenting on Mr.. WH1TNBY's letter
respecting the appointment Of Mr.. VAN
ALIEN as Ambassador to Italy. the New
York Times remarks:
"kr wHIrSEY controverts tho main assertions e1pon
which tho appon has been criticised. and leaves
nothing further to be said about the matter it
publioans. or an opportunity for persons in either
party rho do not like tho President Mr. VAN ALEU- to
sseas their grievances to an airing"
So far as Mr.. WHITNEY is concerned. I'M
doubtedly there is nothing further to be
said" There has been nothing to say since
the 9th of June last when THE SUN pub
Nshed Mr.. WHIrNEY's emphatic denial that
he had made with Mr.. VAN ALIEN any con-
tract OF the kind charged. and his positive
declaration that he had made no contracts
Tor of1ce. express or implied. during the
campaign. either in Mr.. CLEvELAND's or
anybody else's name" That denial was
sufficient. Mr.. WHTrNEY's word WAS enough.
and be did not need to support it by any
documentary evidence. Moreover. his char
acter for sagacity. and his consummate skill
rs political manager in the widest field.
made utterly inoonceivable and absolutely
absurd the suggestion that he had been
As to other persons connected with the
matter of Mr.. VAN ALIENS appointment.
there Is very much further left to be said.
and 1t needs to be said in vindication Of Mr..
CLEVELAND and Of themselves. It's utter
ance is not an unbecoming gibe." but ia
On expression OF friendliness and not enmity
to Mr.. CLEVELAND.
The course pursued by Mr.. HORACE WHITE
H., Tlrryxy q
ing to buy of Mr.YAN ALIEN Is a very serious
matter. It implied and still implies that
In their knowledge or belief the contract for
the purchase Of the italian Enthusiastically
by Mr.. VAN ALIEN for $4,000 was actually
made with somebody whose promise they re-
garded Mr.. CLEVELAND as under an honora-
BILE obligation to fulfil. The suggestion that
the money SHOULD be paid back to Mr.. VAN
ALIEN. in order that Mr.. CLEVELAND might
be relieved from the obligation. seems to
have come from Mr.. GLIDER. OF all men
in politics and out of politics Mr.. GLIDER Is
nearest to the President. He is Mr.. CLEvE-
LANDS closest friend. the repository Of his
profoundest confidence. 1t is understood
that MIR. CLEVELAND has long been In
frequent correspondence with Mr.. GMDEH.
and that to him more than to any other
living being he exposes the springs Of
his conduct. his motives, feelings. am
billions. purposes. ideals. and the whole
secret Of his heart. This correspondence,
we are told. will form the material out OF
which. more than any other Of his written
remains. must be formed and constructed
the biographical estimate and representa-
ton of the personal character of Mr..
CLEVELAND after he has passed away. It
reveals the innermost thoughts OF Mr..
CLEVELAND. declared freely to the man In
whom he has absolute trust. who. he feels.
understands him instinctively. and to whom
he Is bound by sympathy and affection.
Therefore. when Mr.. GLIDER felt it to
be necessary to take the astounding step OF
attempting to buy off Mr.. VAN ALIEN. it was
o proceeding OF the greatest significance.
Such a proposition would seem on the sur
face to have involved an insult to both Mr..
VAN ALIEN and Mr.. CLEVELAND. 1t would
seem to imply that the money had been
paid as the price Of high political and dip
lomatic place. and that Mr.. CLEVELAND was
bound to give the place. But Mr.. GILDER's
loyalty to Mr.. CLEVELAND is too unques-
tionable to allow any such inference so far
% the President is concerned. Probably
his sole purpose was to relieve his eminent
friend from the necessity of offending the
person or persons who had directly made
the contract. IL such contract was made.
II was made with no one. Mr.. VAN ALEN
now affirms. 1t was not made with Mr..
WHITNEY: but that 1t was made with
somebody whose promise would bind Mr..
CLEVELAND seems TO be the only explana-
ton OF the extraordinary course of Mr..
GLIDER and Mr.. WHITE in securing pledges
OF $4,000 to bay off Mr.. VAN ALIEN. If they
had not known that the contract had been
made. and that it imposed an honorable
obligation on Mr.. CLEVELAND to deliver the
goods. how can it be possible that they |
should have conceived the plan They as
sumed that Mr. VAN ALEN had bought the |
appointment. AMI that he was entitled to