I never said he was like Ike. He was moderate for the Republican Party of the 1860's, which included more than its share of extremists and outright nutcases like Ben Wade, Chuckie Sumner, and Thad Stevens. But that Republican party ceased to resemble the current Republican party after the electoral realignment of 1896.
Compared to Democrates that means he was a conservative.
Nope. Prior to the electoral realignment of 1896 the Democrats were traditionally the conservative party. Their constitutional philosophy more closely resembled strict constructionism, whereas Lincoln and the Republicans adhered to loose constructionism.
He could have easily been in the same political Party as Reagan, just as Ike could have.
That remains to be substantiated. As I have noted, Lincoln differed substantially from Reagan on his tax philosophy (Lincoln never supported any significant tax cut at any point in his career and ALWAYS supported the tax hikes whereas Reagan consciously worked to reduce taxes). I'll add to that list that he differed from Reagan on his constitutional philosophy (Reagan was a strict constructionist and Lincoln a loose constructionist).
And what did GOP run on in the electorial realignment of 1894 (not 1896)
The outcome of 1894 had even larger significnce for Republicans. It represented what political scientists call a 'realigning'election, in which the electoral landscape of the nation was transformed....This congressional election was one of the most important in the nation's history because it laid the basis for a long period of Republican leglislative dominance (Grand Old Party, Gould, p.119)
The election of 1896 solidified the result in 1894 and meant the Republicans were now the majority party of the nation everywhere but in the Solid South(ibid,p.127)
What was happening in the Democratic South?
The late 1890's saw an upsurge of racial violence as Southerners imposed segregation firmly on the African-American population there.(Ibid,p.131)
So, in 1894-1896 what was the Republican Party running on?
It was running on a gold standard and high tariffs
Compared to Democrates that means he was a conservative. Nope. Prior to the electoral realignment of 1896 the Democrats were traditionally the conservative party. Their constitutional philosophy more closely resembled strict constructionism, whereas Lincoln and the Republicans adhered to loose constructionism.
It did?
Who was favoring the Dred Scott decision, Republicans or Democrats?
Who was supporting the expansion of slavery, Democrats or Republicans?
On some things, like economics, the Democrats can be seen as being more conservative, but in terms of individual liberty, the Republicans were (and that is what Conservatism is suppose to advocate, individual liberty)
He could have easily been in the same political Party as Reagan, just as Ike could have. That remains to be substantiated. As I have noted, Lincoln differed substantially from Reagan on his tax philosophy (Lincoln never supported any significant tax cut at any point in his career and ALWAYS supported the tax hikes whereas Reagan consciously worked to reduce taxes). I'll add to that list that he differed from Reagan on his constitutional philosophy (Reagan was a strict constructionist and Lincoln a loose constructionist).
Still do not know where you get the idea that Lincoln was a loose constructionist.
As for Reagan, how did his Supreme Court appointments turn out-strict or loose?
Jefferson was a ''strict constructionist'until the Louisiana purchase came up and necessity led him to act úunconstitutionally'.