ɹˈʌnɪŋ fɔːɹ ɹiːᵻlˈɛkʃən ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti sˈɪks, mək fˈɑːɹlənd wʌz ɹˈuːθləsli ɐsˈeɪld fɔːɹ hɪz ɐfˌɪlɪˈeɪʃən wɪððə dˌɛməkɹˈæɾɪk pˈɑːɹɾi, wɪð hɪz əpˈoʊnənts sədʒˈɛstɪŋ hiː wʌz kənspˈaɪɚɹɪŋ wɪð fˈɔːɹmɚ kənfˈɛdɚɹəts ænd sˈʌðɚn dˈɛməkɹˌæts tə dᵻstɹˈɔɪ ðə fˈɛdɚɹəl ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ænd ɹɪˈoʊpən ðə slˈeɪv tɹˈeɪd.
Running for reelection in 1876, McFarland was ruthlessly assailed for his affiliation with the Democratic Party, with his opponents suggesting he was conspiring with former Confederates and Southern Democrats to destroy the federal government and reopen the slave trade.