In the State and Congressional elections of 1874 the result was the reverse of what it was two years before,--nearly every State going Democratic.

Democrats were surprised, Republicans were dumbfounded.

Such a result had not been anticipated by anyone.

Even the State of Massachusetts, the birthplace of abolitionism, the cradle of American liberty, elected a Democratic Governor.

The Democrats had a majority in the National House of Representatives that was about equal to that which the Republicans had elected two years before.