[central_va]

The Republicans were the liberals of their day and the Democrats were the conservatives, that is fact.

[rockrr]

democrats have always been democrats.
THAT is a fact.

[BroJoeK]

central_va: "The Republicans were the liberals of their day and the Democrats were the conservatives, that is fact."

In fact, Democrats have always been just what they are today -- they want powerful Federal Government to support their own interests and only suddenly discover the virtues of more limited government when they're voted out of office.

For an example of Democrats doing what Democrats do, consider this thread on Jefferson Davis' efforts to stop the Rock Island Railroad bridge over the Mississippi.
Davis wanted a Southern transcontinental railroad route, and so used his powers as Secretary of War to block the Northern bridge.