The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-09
VAN ALIEN,
The Ambassador to Italy, Declines
the Position.

lie Does Not Deny, and Never Did, That He
Contributed Some to tho Campaign
Fund-It Was Not $4,000, But .
Considerable Sum of Money.
New YORK, Dec. 4-The following
correspondence, which is self-explana.
tory, was given out for publication
here Sunday:
NEWPORT, r. L., Nov. 90, 1895.
The Hon. Walter O. Gresham, Secre-
tary of State-Sir:-I have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your let.
ter of the 2sth of October, in which
you officially notify me that the presi.
dent, by and with the advice and con.
sent of the senate has appointed me
ambassador to Italy.
Since the receipt of your letter have
given the matter my serious and care.
full attention, and as the result of my
reflections, have concluded to ask you
to express to the president my decision
not to accept the office rendered to me.
/ must beg that you will not infer
from this action any lack of apprecia
ton on my part of the honor conferred.
On the contrary, l fully comprehend
the dignity, the Importance and
responsibility of the position and
having this realization may
frankly add, that the nomination was
extremely gratifying to me. not in q
personal sense merely, but more
particularly becauseof the opportunity
offered me of representing my country
in such q manner as hoped might be
satisfactory to the American people
and creditable to the administration.
The charge was that received the
appointment in return for contribu.
ton of $50, 600 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 was
aware that, as an interested party, my
statement would have little effect be.
yond the limits of my personal &C
quaintance. Now, however, when my
action can not be fairly attributed te
purely selfish motives, it seems to me
that repetition of that denial, which
made without qualification, should
be sufficient for any honorable man
have never denied, and do not now
deny, that 1 contributed to the cam
paign fund-not $4,000, but yet con
siderable sum of money.
So far from attaching undue import
ance to it, was fully aware that tn,
contribution meant far less to me thar
the time and effort devoted by thou
sands of unselfsh citizens to the sam,
campaign, nor did believe that i
should entitle me to any more consid
Grafton. On the contrary, have no
only admitted but have positively in
sisted at all times that it created NJ
obligation to me whatever, and l fee
confident that the president, who, il
fact, was kind enough to say to tn
democrats of Rhode Island that hi
personal acquaintance with me enabled
him to consider my candidacy solel.
upon it's merits, will bear me out in thi
assertion. On the other hand l frank
ly admit that, until after tn
appointment has been made it neve
once occurred to my mind that IN
contribution could be used to my ir
jury. ] may add that although i hav
endeavored to study without bias tn
arguments which have been advance
can not even now perceive that it
any less creditable or patriotic for on
to aid with his means cause in whic
he believes than with his voice or hi
pen.
4 But, whatever may be the correc
conclusion regarding the ethics of tn
case, the fact remains that larg
number of my fellowcitizens has bee
led either by coincidence or scircun
stance or by false reports to look upo
my appointment as in some way incol
sistent with the professions of the den
ocratic party. BY these critics genel
ally, my fitness for the position ha
been generously conceded, but the fac
of my contribution to the campaig
fund has been considered as making
j improper for me to receive this al
pointment. do not think that coul
, now remove this impression from til
minds of many right minded an
thoughtful people whose judgment,
, frankly admit, may possibly be correc
: At all events it is clear that fin
myself in u false position with refc
ence to this office and appointment
Acceptance of the Office would NAL
. me appear willing for the sake of pc
| sonal qualification to discredit in IL
) minds of many the political rebul
| upon the administration which Ii;
honored me and whose success ] ear
} estly desire
1t therefore seems to me sufficient
3 add that self-respcct compels me
: adopt wholly the other alternative ar
decline the high Office to which ha,
: been appointed. have the honor 81
G Your obedient servant,
j. j. VAS ALIEN.