"When asked about a quintessential election in the history of the United States, one election that is often brought up is the 1884 election. A thrilling 5 way spectacle and one of the first elections to see in person campaigning. Back in 1880, the candidates weren't all that dissimilar. Hancock, Clay and Conkling generally agreed. Four years later and it seemed like everything had been turned upside down. Damn near no one could agree on damn near anything. The Bourbons and Democrats ripped into one another trying to pry the Democratic voting base out of the others fingers, causing and untold amount of division. Democrats calling Bourbons lovers of the black folk, while Bourbons called the Democrats Redeemers, without holding anything back. Old wounds reopened between Copperheads, Fire-eaters and War Dems.
The Republicans and Liberals meanwhile were quite cordial to one another throughout the campaign. Though there were strong disagreements between the two when it came to moderation, both generally refrained from attacking the other. Later revealed in Robert Todd Lincoln's memoirs:
'It was generally assumed that the election would go to a runoff, there were simply too many candidates for anything else to occur. While no explicit deal was crafted, it was my understanding that the cordial campaign was simply a matter of staying well within good graces among the kingmakers...'
The only attacks that were thrown the way of the Sheridan campaign was the matter of his age and perceived declining health. Mr. Sheridan assured the public that it was of no concern. Famously he entered a New York horse race in October and had the newspapers come to watch. Sheridan won the race and promised he'd do the same in the race for the White House.
That wasn't the only stunt the Sheridan campaign would pull though. General Sheridan would have journalists join him on hunts, at his home in New York for dinner or even in small local speaking events. While not making a huge deal out of it (as not to offend traditionalists), the Sheridan campaign changed how the presidential race was done. Hampton began inviting people to his front porch in South Carolina and jovially spoke with numerous families. (This was the birth of the front porch campaign.) Though Hampton also made no spectacle of it. News of his speeches didn't make it far out of the south. Sherman and Adams preferred the old New England style of campaigning. Going to fancy parties with wealthy donors and rarely mentioning the race, preferring to let surrogates do the dirty work.
This was not the case for President McClellan or the Freedmen. McClellan neglected the office of the Presidency almost entirely, instead relying on Thomas Bayard to run the country. McClellan instead travelled the whole nation, even hoping on the transcontinental railroad and being seen in Los Angeles. McClellan made everywhere he went his own personal fiefdom. While this certainly spread the word of his campaign, it was seen as uncouth by the papers who regularly hounded the president over his style of campaign. (It also greatly damaged the President's health.)
The Freedmen also knew the word of their party needed to spread. They wanted to make a point, yet the newspapers never covered their run. With Douglass entirely unwilling to do anything for the campaign (still bitter over the nomination.) Governor Cincinnatus then, picked up the slack. He knew that the freedmen of Lincoln were well aware of the party, and black newspapers in successful reconstruction states were doing wonders. So the good Governor chose to speak to the freedmen of the failed reconstruction states, dodging lynchings, bullets and fists the whole through. This tour had two effects. One, damn near every freedmen in the country knew of his campaign (Even if many would have a hard time voting) and two, the papers started covering the party..."
-from A History of the Old Horse Race
by Jackie Kensly, published 1949
ONCE AGAIN NO ONE HAS GAINED A MAJORITY IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE!
SHERIDAN, SHERMAN AND HAMPTON TO GO TO THE HOUSE!
"The results of the 1884 presidential election were shocking. Not because it deadlocked, that was assumed, they were shocking because of how will Phil Sheridan preformed. He was just 6 electoral votes shy of outright majority. If he had won California (The closest state in the election.) Then there would've been no runoff. This upset was really good news for the Republicans, and the victory among the general electorate was also viewed down ballot as Republicans gained many congressional seats. (Though the House remained narrowly Liberal and the Senate was still strongly Liberal. Hampton and McClellan's vote splitting sank both of their campaigns. On top of that, Hampton being an actual former Confederate really killed appeal outside of the south, his narrow win in West Virginia was attributed to Liberal and Republican vote splitting.
The biggest winner of the night though were the Freedmen. Douglass had carried Lincoln and gained over 600 thousand votes. That was around a third of the of age black men in the nation, this was far above the initial goals of the party, coming in second place in Alabama. It also achieved the goal of making the Democrats shit themselves."
-from Freemen, Free Destiny
by Elizabeth Monty, published 1995
"George McClellan died of a heart attack on December 1st 1884. His wife grabbed him and begged for his last words. Little Mac stared at her and said
'To hell with Hampton.'
This meant that once again meant that the presidency would pass to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, George Edmunds, who was inaugurated as the 23rd President of the United States. Edmunds, confusedly became the second ever Liberal President. The shocked nation looked to him for support. He would do his best to give it, refusing to fire any McClellan cabinet members, and just carrying the lame duck term on with pride. There was some concern that a special election would have to be held as per the 14th amendment, but this was swiftly ignored. Edmunds was leaving office in a few months and seen as that clause in the amendment was simply intent to avoid a over a year of a president who no one voted for it was forgiven.
In contrast to the brash and arrogant McClellan, Edmunds was kind and statesmanlike. Many believe that his guiding hand was a key factor that saved the nation from chaos during the congressional proceedings...
-from Forgotten 23
by Josie McDaniel, published 1967
GEORGE F. EDMUNDS, the 23rd President of the United States from December to March 1884-1885
"The Liberals held a ten seat edge on the Republicans in the house. The delegations were entirely deadlocked. Sheridan definitely had the support of 15 state delegations.
Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Dominica, Lincoln, Nevada, Nebraska, Kansas, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Alabama and Tennessee. That was a good amount! But he was five states short. It was clear that none of the other southern states were going to vote for Sheridan or Sherman, so a deal had to be brokered.
Sheridan and the Republicans were seen as radicals, Mr. Lincoln had no want for the Vice Presidency... so Sherman offered a deal. The New England States would vote for Little Phil, if he dropped some of the anti monopoly stuff and the senate Republicans agreed to balance out the administration by making John Quincy Adams II Vice President. After a few weeks of back and forth everyone (in the north), was satisfied. Sherman could return to the senate in peace, Lincoln wouldn't have to take a job he hated and Sheridan (that aging general.) Could have the White House (for now.) The deal was brokered, handshakes were exchanged and the nation had a new President and Vice President..."
-from Congressional Bargains
by Ignatius Schultz, published 1928
NEWLY SELECTED PRESIDENT SHERIDAN AND VICE PRESIDENT ADAMS
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PHEW! Finally. Here is 1884! Again love hearing your feedback and ideas! Next chapter we will discuss what happens to the leaderless Bourbons and other political shifts post election!
I also sense yet another Adams presidency approaching once ol’ Sheridan passes