The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-01-28
AN EvENrFuL CAREER.

A sketch of Mr.. Blaine's Life as Told in
Brief Form.
1880 James G.. Blaine was born in West
Brownsville, Washington county,
Pa, Jan. 81.
1S47 Graduated from Washington col
lege, in his native county, with
honors.
1852 Instructor in literature and science
in the Pennsylvania institution
for the blind in Philadelphia.
1854 Removed to Augusta, Me-, and
became editor and half proprietor
of the Kennebec Journal.
1856 Elected delegate to the first Re
publican national convention,
which nominated General Fremont for the
presidency.
1865 Elected to the state legislature,
serving four successive terms in
that body, two of which as its speaker.
1862 Elected to Congress, where, in one
branch or the other, he served for
eighteen years.
1865 Began to take prominent part in
the work of reconstructing the
Confederate states.
1867 Opposed that section of the recon
struction bill placing the south
under military government, and was fin
ally successful in defeating the obnoxious
clause. lie also delivered powerful
speech against the doctrine of paying off
the public debt in greenbacks.
1869 Chosen speaker of the House OF
Representatives, and was re-
elected speaker by the next two Con-
crosses.
1874 The Democrats having gained
control of the House, Mr.. Blaine
became the leader of the minority.
1876 The most prominent candidate for
the presidential nomination. On
June IL, the Sunday before the conven-
ton, was Frustrated by the heat when en-
tering his church. At the convention he
only lacked twenty -eightvotes of the ma
lority necessary to nominate him, but
was defeated by the consolidation of his
States Senate to fill the unexpired term
caused by the resignation Of Senator Nor
riIl.
1878 Advocated the establishment of a
steamship line to Brazil and urged
that subsidy be given to insure its sue
cess.
1880 Again prominent candidate for
the presidential nomination.
When Garfield was elected he was offered
and accepted the state portfolio.
1881 Retired from the cabinet on Dec
10, after inaugurating several
measures which were calculated to accrue
to the benefit OF the United States.
1882 Began to write his historical work,
entitled ''Twenty Years of Con-
gress," on which he labored four years.
1854 Nominated for.the presidency, but
was defeated at the polls and re-
tired to his home in Augusta and contin-
ued writing his book.
1886 Took an active part in the Maine
campaign, delivering a series of
speeches upon the fisheries question.
1888 Went to Europe in poor health
and had an attack of illness while
in Florence. Sent two letters from Europe
saying he would not be candidate under
any circumstances. He returned in the
fall and delivered several speeches in
favor of General Harrison's candidacy.
1889 Appointed secretary of state and
began to interest himself at once
in the Behring sea and fisheries question
with Great Britain and other iuterna-
tional affairs.
1890 Formulated his reciprocity ideas.
which were incorporated in the
tariff act this year and which led to COM
mercial treaties with several countries.
1892 Resigned as secretary of state in
June and spent the summer at Bar
Harbor. In October he made a speech at
Ophir farm, on his way to Washington,
where he has since remained.