text: The conservative party of 1860 consisted of Abraham Lincoln and was republican not democratic. Yes, it was the progressive party that spawned the KKK and the conservative party that wanted to do away with slavery. That is still true today. Well, mostly, the progressives changed beginning in the late 40's causing the slavery defenders to split off, called the Dixiecrats. When that failed, all but 4 returned to the democratic party. You are absolutely correct about one thing though. You can't be a current member of the republican party and a progressive. That was also true in 1860.