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Pres. Lincoln politely rejected an offer of elephants from the King of Siam - David Lockmiller - 04-19-2021 10:01 AM
In one of the more humorous events of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln politely rejected an offer of elephants from the King of Siam. While the letter from Rama IV (aka Mongut) was addressed to former President James Buchanan, it was up to Lincoln and his Secretary of State William Seward to politely decline this offer from afar. As Lincoln points out in his reply (February 3, 1862), steam power had overtaken the need for heavy animal power of this kind.
The relevant quote from President Lincoln’s letter of reply reads:
“Our political jurisdiction, however, does not reach a latitude so low as to favor the multiplication of the elephant, and steam on land, as well as on water, has been our best and most efficient agent of transportation in internal commerce.”
My post had to be Lincoln-related, but my real purpose was to introduce Cher and the lonely elephant from a San Francisco Chronicle article today with an accompanying movie trailer which must (or should) be seen. Hats off to Cher!!!
Review: Cher rescues a pachyderm — and sings! — in ‘Cher and the Loneliest Elephant’ [Read the review BEFORE viewing the trailer as preparation.]
RE: Pres. Lincoln politely rejected an offer of elephants from the King of Siam - Gene C - 04-19-2021 02:45 PM
For more on this see "Lincoln and the Elephants
https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-3687.html?highlight=elephant
David's post reminds me of a song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aiOjPVxNqY
Me and the Elephant by Gene Cotton
* A nice post David.
RE: Pres. Lincoln politely rejected an offer of elephants from the King of Siam - LincolnMan - 05-16-2021 08:38 AM
And am overjoyed about the elephant. Great story!