Changes

==Ideology and leadership==

==Ideology and leadership==

[[File:George F. Edmunds - Brady-Handy.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Portrait of [[George F. Edmunds]].]]

[[File:George F. Edmunds - Brady-Handy.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Portrait of [[George F. Edmunds]].]]

Although the Half-Breeds had no rigid organization as a congressional bloc and were viewed as merely a group of disgruntled Blaine supporters promoting factionalism, their influence proved to be highly significant.<ref name=georgefrisbiehoar/> They viewed the term attributed negatively to them as either badges of honor or an identifying mark, similar to the the Democratic Party's embracing of the donkey as their symbol after [[Jacksonian Democracy|Jacksonian Democrats]] were dubbed "jack***es."

Although the Half-Breeds had no rigid organization as a congressional bloc and were viewed as merely a group of disgruntled Blaine supporters promoting factionalism, their influence proved to be highly significant.<ref name=georgefrisbiehoar/> They viewed the term attributed negatively to them as either badges of honor or an identifying mark, similar to the the Democratic Party's embracing of the donkey as their symbol after [[Jacksonian Democracy|Jacksonian Democrats]] were dubbed "jack***es."

When accused of lacking sufficient political loyalty to the Republican Party, Half-Breeds would often accuse Stalwarts of holding excessive allegiance to their associated political machines and patronage.<ref name=georgefrisbiehoar/> Among the group's ambitions aside from moderate civil service reform<ref>October 26, 2019. [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2019/10/26/james-g-blaine-the-defeated-candidate/ James G. Blaine: The Defeated Candidate]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved November 20, 2021.</ref> included advocating [[industry|industrial]] strength, [[railroad]] interests, higher protective tariffs,<ref name=levipmorton>[https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/vice-president/morton-levi.htm About the Vice President | Levi Parsons Morton, 22nd Vice President (1889-1893)]. ''United States Senate''. Retrieved November 20, 2021.</ref> expanding markets abroad, and a business-friendly currency system on the national level.

When accused of lacking sufficient political loyalty to the Republican Party, Half-Breeds would often accuse Stalwarts of holding excessive allegiance to their associated political machines and patronage.<ref name=georgefrisbiehoar/> Among the group's ambitions aside from moderate civil service reform<ref>October 26, 2019. [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2019/10/26/james-g-blaine-the-defeated-candidate/ James G. Blaine: The Defeated Candidate]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved November 20, 2021.</ref> included advocating [[industry|industrial]] strength, [[railroad]] interests, higher protective tariffs,<ref name=levipmorton>[https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/vice-president/morton-levi.htm About the Vice President | Levi Parsons Morton, 22nd Vice President (1889-1893)]. ''United States Senate''. Retrieved November 20, 2021.</ref> expanding markets abroad, and a business-friendly currency system on the national level.

According to Professor Richard E. Welch, Jr., the Half-Breeds were "party regulars" who "damned" bolters, were not uniformly independent in political nature nor advocates of the spoils system, and more intelligent than personal in comparison to the Stalwarts.<ref>''George Frisbie Hoar and the Half-Breed Republicans, p. 90.</ref>

According to Professor Richard E. Welch, Jr., the Half-Breeds were "party regulars" who "damned" bolters, were not uniformly independent in political nature nor advocates of the spoils system, and more intelligent than personal in comparison to the Stalwarts.<ref>''George Frisbie Hoar and the Half-Breed Republicans, p. 90.</ref>