Well...First of all I think you give the Republican Party too much credit for abolishing slavery. As I mentioned above Lincoln (a Republican) allowed it to persist in the border states. It would have been an act of Congress not the political party which ended it. There is speculation that if the seven secessionist states had returned to the Union in1861...Lincoln may have not pushed for abolition. The huge issue at the time was loss of excise taxes if the southern states seceded.

Slavery was not just allowed to just fade away in Great Britain. It was formally abolished by the "Slavery Abolition Act" of 1833.  This was an act of parliament. With respect to "some other form of servitude"...that is exactly what you had in this country until the 60's. Although the 13th Amendment freed the slaves they remained in economic slavery as share croppers and tenant farmers.

The members of the KKK were not limited to the South. I remember visiting with my father in Indiana in the late 60's, and hearing about "Sun Down Towns." . I came from the streets of Brooklyn, New York and Istanbul, Turkey. I had never heard of this before. These were towns in which Blacks were permitted to work during the day, but not permitted to populate after work. The adage was "Don't let the sun set on your ass in this town". Both my son and I graduated from Penn State University. As late as 1998 the KKK had a rally just outside of the  Schuylkill Haven, PA campus.

I in no way diminish the accomplishments of Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Dubois, Ralph Bunch, Julian Bond, Medger Evers or any of those that sacrificed so much to accomplish equal protection under the law. I only regret that it took so long and so much sacrifice to arrive at that end.

Insofar as a party of choice is concerned...I have none. I prefer to listen to what each nominee has to say and which will best represent my interests irrespective of party affiliation. During the century since the end of the Civil War there have been Republican administrations, House and Senate majorities...but little was done until the 60's to effectuate change..