THE election campaign of 1875 was the most exciting in
the history of the state, and in some respects it will compare
favorably with any political struggle that ever occurred on
American soil. The officers to be elected that year were the
state treasurer, members of Congress, members of the legisla-
ture, and all county and local officers. The Democrats resolved
to make a supreme effort to carry the election. For the first
time since 1868, they were strongly united, and with some
hope of success, although a Republican majority of 30,000
was to be overcome. Since 1868, they had made no effort to
carry the election, with the exception of the feeble attempt to
elect Judge Dent in 1869. In 1873, they virtually disbanded
and declined to even nominate a ticket, gave up their party
name, and supported Alcorn for governor, and Greeley for
President. They were now encouraged by the schism in the
Republican party, having reason to believe that they would
secure the support of many of the white Republicans and
negroes who were identified with the state. The result of
the recent election in the North, by which the House of Repre-
sentatives had become Democratic, also gave them hope.
The initial movement in the campaign of 1875 began as early
as the 3d of March, when a caucus of Democratic members of
the legislature was held in the capitol. It appointed a com-
mittee of 42, under the chairmanship of John M. Stone, to
effect the reorganization of the party. The committee met
on the 17th of May, and set August 3 as the date for the
state convention, and recommended the nomination of the
ablest and best men for Congress, for the legislature, and for
the state offices. ¹ The convention which met August 3 was
a large and representative one. It was addressed by the
Hon. L. Q. C. Lamar, fresh from his eulogy on Sumner, and
at the time the idol of his party. He advised strongly against

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