If you assume that non-conservatives are largely trying to push society to be better (and I admit that “if” is doing a lot of work), then conservatives, pretty much by definition, are going to usually be on the wrong side of history by trying to hold back change.

Conservatism really only works when it acts as a steadying force against over-rapid change, rather than cover for a right wing agenda, and, unfortunately, it always seems to get corrupted like that.