the party split into factions in the late 1870s. the stalwarts, followers of senator roscoe conkling, defended the spoils system. the half-breeds, who followed senator james g. blaine of maine, pushed for reform of the civil service. independents who opposed the spoils system altogether were called "mugwumps". in 1884, mugwumps rejected james g. blaine as corrupt and helped elect democrat grover cleveland, though most returned to the party by 1888.