They are still the republicans, though. But even in Lincoln's time the GOP was identified with the northern business elites. The difference is back then intellectuals were not scorned and many gravitated to the new party as an anti-slavery platform which was popular among the elite... if not the blue-collar/farmer types. For that matter the Democrats held a solid south until 1965 because they weren't republicans and had not been the driving force behind the civil war.
But both modern parties as of now are the products of racism. Somehow they passed each other!
But both modern parties as of now are the products of racism. Somehow they passed each other!
