The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-12-04

New York, Dec. S.-The following
correspondence between tho Hon. ]. ].
Van Allen, and the president and the do
partment of state, is made public TO-
day, and is seIt-explanatory:
NEWPORT, R. L, Nov 20, 1893.
To The Hon. Waller @ Gresham, Secretary
of State:
SR-I have the honor to acknowledge
receipt OF your letter OF the 26th OF oc-
tober, in which you notify me that the
President, by and with the advice and
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
nv reflections, have concluded to ask
you to express to the President my
decision not to accept the Office rendered
me.
l must beg that you will not infer
from this action any lack OF apprecl9-
ton on my part Of the honor conferred;
On the contrary fully comprehend
the dignity, importance and responsl-
bility of the position, and having TINS
realization, may frankly add that the
nomination was extremely gratifying to
me--not in personal sense merely, but
more particularly because OF the oppor-
tunity afforded me of representing my
country. in such q manner as hoped
might be satisfactory to the American
people and creditabie to the admtnistra-
ton.
Among the comments upon my nom
ination which appeared in the public
press, ono charge only merits attention,
not because 1t was true. but because 1t
was, and, l suppose, still is believed by
many persons unfamiliar with the in
diyiduals concerned and the facts essen
tiai 10 the formation OF an accurate
Judgment. The charge was that l re-
ceived the appointment in return Tor
contribution OF fifty thousand dol.
lars to the Democratic national
campaign fund. While my nomination
was pending in the senate it did not
seem fitting and proper for me to offer
more than an explicit denial. l was
aware that, as an interested party, my
statement would have little effect be-
yond the limits Of my personal ac-
ouaintances. Now, however, when my
action cannot be fairly attributed to
purely selfish motives, it seems to me
that q repetition OF that denial which l
make without qualification, should be
sufficient for any honorable man.
have never denied, and do not now
deny, that l contributed to the cam
paign fund-not fifty thousand dollars,
but yet considerable sum Of money;
sincerely believing, as / did, that a con-
tinuation OF Republican supremacy
would be not only hindrance to ma
tional progress, but in time positive
menace to the success OF popular gov
ernment, and having large interest at
stake was inpelled by both
patriotic and selfish reasons to aid
the Democrats cause. So far as attach
ing undue importance to it, was fully
aware that the contribution meant far
less to me than the time and effort de-
voted by thousands of unselfsh citizens
to the same campaign. Nor did l be-
lieve that it should entitle me TO any
more consideration. On the contrary,
| have not only admitted but have posi-
lively insisted at all times that
it created no obligation to me
whatever, and I feel confident
that the President, who in fact was
kind enough to say to the Democrats Of
Rhode Island that his personal acquaint-
ance with me enabled him to consider
my candidacy solely upon its merits,
will bear mo out in this assertion.
On the other hand, l frankly admit
that, until after the appointment had
been made, 1t never once occurred to
my mind that my contribution could
be used to my injury. It therefore
seems to me sufficient to add that set
respect compels me to adopt the only
alternate, and to decline the high Office
to which / have been appointed. 1haVe
the honor to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
[siGnedl J.J. VAN ALEN'