The ticket in 1880 was James Garfield, a Half Breed, and Chester Arthur, a Stalwart. The Stalwarts could not get over the idea that someone who opposed them so blatantly was going to be President - Garfield was a brilliant man (he could simultaneously write in Ancient Greek and Latin - he was ambidextrous), a former General, and a distinguished Representative. However, an extreme Stalwart named Charles Guiteau, shot Garfield early into his Presidency in 1881, screaming, "I am a Stalwart and Arthur is President!".
Chester Arthur, however, was so horrified by the actions of Guiteau, that he adopted the entire Half Breed programme of reform, and the Stalwarts were swept into political oblivion.
The moral of the story is - the Republicans are a strong organisation that have survived a lot splits. However factions should be careful as to the limbs they climb out onto - those limbs can easily be cut off and discarded, as the Stalwarts found out.
Regards, Ivan
Fascinating historical point, Ivan. Thanks for that post. Were the party to fracture, I wonder what blocs would go where, or if certain elements would simply be discarded, as you mentioned.
I am amazed that a Brit would have that knowledge of American politics regarding the situation 130 years ago. You're absolutely correct about it. I sort of made Garfield my upper division history course hobby, but I'd think less than 1 in 1000 Americans would have the knowledge you shared in a few short sentences in your post.
I realize I'm not addressing the moral of your story. I'm not sure I'm in the mood to get into the middle of this food fight tonight. After all, it will continue for many long more months. I'm quickly losing my desire to post here at all until a truce is called.
But I couldn't help myself from complimenting you on your knowledge of American history. I own a bazillion history books from my undergraduate days, but I couldn't tell you who the PM was in 1880 England, that's for sure.