 Blaine had always believed his health to be fragile , and by the time he joined Harrison 's cabinet he truly was unwell . The years at the State Department also brought Blaine personal tragedy as two of his children , Walker and Alice , died suddenly in 1890 . Another son , Emmons , died in 1892 . With these family issues and his declining health , Blaine decided to retire and announced that he would resign from the cabinet on June 4 , 1892 . Because of their growing animosity , and because Blaine 's resignation came three days before the 1892 Republican National Convention began , Harrison suspected that Blaine was preparing to run against him for the party 's nomination for president . 
