The Mugwumps thought government jobs should be given to people who were qualified, based on merit, rather than appointed by the spoils system. They were Republican political activists.
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patronage-exchanging government jobs and contracts for political support
by giving them jobs, help them to study, etc..
Andrew Jackson
The Spoil System
Cronyism gives political appointments or government jobs to political friends. Conversely, nepotism refers to giving government jobs to members of the politician's family.