Oh cut the disingenuous far-right talking point. The Democratic party of the 1800s has no bearing on the Democratic party of today. Neither does the Republican party. What DOES have relevance is ideology. Slavery was undeniably a conservative institution. Conservatives went to war to preserve their right to own and oppress other people. Conservatives left the Democratic party in droves over the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts. The modern day Republican party is made of of the very same people that left the GOP over the notion of treating black people with respect. Ever hear the term Southern Democrat? That's the modern GOP.