 The Democrats held their convention in Chicago the following month and nominated Governor Grover Cleveland of New York . Cleveland 's time on the national scene was brief , but Democrats hoped that his reputation as a reformer and an opponent of corruption would attract Republicans dissatisfied with Blaine and his reputation for scandal . They were correct , as reform @-@ minded Republicans ( called " Mugwumps " ) denounced Blaine as corrupt and flocked to Cleveland . The Mugwumps , including such men as Carl Schurz and Henry Ward Beecher , were more concerned with morality than with party , and felt Cleveland was a kindred soul who would promote civil service reform and fight for efficiency in government . However , even as the Democrats gained support from the Mugwumps , they lost some blue @-@ collar workers to the Greenback Party , led by Benjamin F. Butler , Blaine 's antagonist from their early days in the House . 
