THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN OF 1884 When the Forty-seventh Congress expired March 4th, 1883, I returned to my home at Natchez, Mississippi.

1884 was the year of the Presidential election.

Early in the year it was made clear that there was to be a bitter fight for the Presidential nomination.
President Arthur was a candidate to succeed himself; but Mr.Blaine, it was conceded, would be the leading candidate before the Convention.
Senator John Sherman was also a candidate.

It was generally believed that Senator Edmunds of Vermont would get a majority of the delegates from the New England States.

Mr.Blaine was weaker in his own section, New England, than in any other part of the country except the South.