The herald., 1893-01-28

terity and physical endurance, his rspi'
dispatch of business, and his firm ant
impartial spirit, were recognized on al
sides. Though necessarily exercising 9
powerful influence upon the course o
} legislation, he seldom left the chair tc
mingle in the contests OF the floor.
The Republican national convention
was now at hand, and Mr.. Blaine wa!
the most prominent candidate for the
presidential nomination. He had 6
larger body OF enthusiastic friends thar
any other leader of his party, and the
stirring events of the past few months
had intensified their devotion. On June
llth, the Sunday preceding the conven
ton, Just as he was entering church al
Washington, hs was Frustrated with the
extreme heat, and his illness for time
created wide apprehension. The advo-
Gates OF his nomination, however, re.
malned unshaken in their support. On
the first ballot he received 2S5 votes out
OF total OF 754, the remainder being
divided among Senator Morton, Secre-
tary Bristow, Senator Conkling, Gov
ernor Hayes and several others. On the
seventh ballot his vote rose to 351, lack
ing only 28 of nomination, but union
OF the supporters of all the other candi-
dates gave Governor Hayes 3S4 and &C.
cured his nomination. Immediately
after the convention, on the resignation
OF Senator Morrill, to accept the secre-
taryship OF the treasury, Mr.. Blaine was
appointed senator to fill the unexpired
term, and in the following winter he was
chosen by the legislature for the full en-
suing term.
On the Chinese question he early de-
clared himself decidedly in favor of re-
stricting their immigration. In speech
on February IA, 1879, when the subject
came before the senate, he argued that
there were only two courses that the
Chinese must be excluded or fully ad-
mitted into the family of citizens; that
the latter was as impracticable as it was
dangerous; that they could not be as
simulated with our people or institu-
tions, and that it was duty to protect
the free laborer OF America against the
servile laborers of China.
AS the presidential convention of 1880
approached, it was apparent that Mr..
Blaine retained the same support that
had adhered to him 30 tenaciausly four
years before. The contest developed
into an earnest and prolonged struggle
between his friends and those who ad-
vocated third term for General Grant.
The convention, one of the most mem
orable in American history, lasted
through six days, and there were SO
ballots. On the first the vote stood:
Grant 304, Blaine 284, Sherman 90, Ed
munds "a, Washburne 80, Win
dom -, Garfield 1. On the final
ballot the friends of Blaine and Sher-
man united on General Garfield, who
received 399 votes to 306 for Grant, and
was nominated. On his election, Mr..
Blaine was rendered and accepted the
office of secretary of state. He remained
at the head of the department less tn an
10 months, and his effective admins
tration was practically limited by the
assassination of President Garfield to
four.
Upon the retirement of Mr.. Blaine
from the state department in 1881, he
was for the first time in 23
years out of public station. He
soon entered upon the composition
OF an elaborate historical work
entitled, Twenty Years of Congress.
OF which the first 200 pages give a sue.
cinct review of the earlier political his
tory tory OF the country, followed by more
and the second in January, 1886 (Nor-
wich, Conn.,. The work had very
wide sale and secured general approval
for its impartial spirit and brilliant
style.
When the Republican national con-
vention of 1884 met at Chicago,
it was clear that Mr.. Blaine had
lost none of his hold upon
the enthusiasm of his party. On the
first ballot he received 33411s votes,
President Arthur 27S, Senator
Edmunds SO. Senator Logan $50,
and the rest were scattered.
His vote kept gaining till the
fourth ballot, when he received 541 out
of total of 813 and was nominated.
The canvass that followed was one of Pc
culiar bitterness. Mr.. Blaine took the
stump in Ohio, Indiana, New York and
other states, and in series OF remark
able speeches, chiefly devoted to up
holding the policy OF protection to
American industry, deepened the popu-
lar impression of his intellectual power.
The election turned upon the result in
New York, which was lost to Mr.. Blaine
by 1047 votes, whereupon he promptly
resumed the work upon his history,
which had been interfered with by the
canvass.
MI. Blaine took an active part in the
Maine canvass of 1886, opening it Aug
uBt Z4UQ III bpttCu db DCUdSo ldhC, uC-
voted chiefly to the questions of the
| fisheries, the tariff and the third party
prohibition movement.
In 1883 Mr.. Blaine declined to allow
his name to be presented to the
Republican national convention as
candidate for the presidency.
On his return from abroad he en-
gagged in the campaign with the
usual energy and effectiveness, max
ing a series of memorable speeches
upon issues of the day. Following the
election of President Harrison he WAS
called to the cabinet as secretary of state,
in which position his brilliant services
added fresh lustre to his reputation.
Shortly before the meeting of the Repub-
lican national convention at Minneapolis
last year Mr.. Blaine resigned from the
cabinet. His name was presented to the
convention for the presidential nomina-
ton, the choice falling upon Mr.. Har'
rison. In the succeeding campaigns
Mr.. Blaine made one or two speeches in
behalf of the Republican party, and con.
tributed to the North American Review q
brilliant article reviewing the chief po'
litical issues of the day and generously
complimenting President Harrison's
letter of acceptance. After the election
it was announced that Blaine would
spend the winter in Southern California
but the rapid progress of his malady
prevented the journey and brought hin
| tn his deathbad For wears past it hal