 Blaine accepted his narrow defeat and spent most of the next year working on the second volume of Twenty Years of Congress . The book continued to earn him enough money to support his lavish household and pay off his debts . Although he spoke to friends of retiring from politics , Blaine still attended dinners and commented on the Cleveland administration 's policies . By the time of the 1886 Congressional elections , Blaine was giving speeches and promoting Republican candidates , especially in his home state of Maine . Republicans were successful in Maine , and after the Maine elections in September , Blaine went on a speaking tour from Pennsylvania to Tennessee , hoping to boost the prospects of Republican candidates there . Republicans were less successful nationwide , gaining seats in the House while losing seats in the Senate , but Blaine 's speeches kept him and his opinions in the spotlight . 
