Mid-Day of March 11, 1946

Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC

Princess Luna walked alongside President Truman as they ascended the steps to the memorial for Abraham Lincoln, the 16th American President. Truman had spent the brief car ride over to the Lincoln Memorial telling her about the accomplishments and the deeds of Lincoln, namely his decision to free the black colored humans from slavery.

Luna had found it odd that the humans would separate themselves and enslaved other members of their species on the basis of what color they were. It made as much sense to her as ponies enslaving each other on the basis of their mane color.

Regardless, she was enamored by the courage of this martyred Lincoln, who had sacrificed his life on the behalf of the cause of liberty, an ideal that the humans in America seemed to hold dear to them. In Equestria, citizens were largely free to hold their own viewpoints and beliefs and to publically express them. Indeed, Celestia regularly would host commoners from across the kingdom in order to hear their arguments and pleas before initiating a major policy initiative. However, things were different here in America. The people choose their leader every four years and had a legislature that served to halt anti-democratic or poor policy proposals, something that Celestia didn’t have to deal with.

“Perhaps we have something to learn from the Americans,” thought Luna to herself.

However, despite the greatness that Luna found in this system of governance which the humans called “democracy,” she still had a few qualms about America, namely its treatment of animals. While the treatments of animals, including equines, wasn’t any worse than any other part of the human world, millions of animals still served in bondage to the humans.

Turning to her host as they approached the memorial, she said, “Mr. Truman, may I ask you a question?”

“Certainly, your majesty.”

“This Abraham Lincoln,” she said, pointing to the giant statue that dominated the temple like monument, “during his reign the enslavement of humans was brought to an end. However, despite your government’s professed hatred of slavery, your people, just like humans the world over, own animals, including ponies, as slaves. How is it that you can reconcile these two opposing facts, Mr. President?”

Truman paused for a moment, clearly grasping desperately for a diplomatic means of answering the question. Finally finding the words that he was looking for, he turned to Luna and said, “I know that this bothers you a lot, and understandably so. I want you to understand something, your majesty. The reason we do so, is because the animals in our world are dumb and stupid. They aren’t capable of the emotional and intellectual thoughts that your kind possess. Thus we don’t have a problem exploiting them. Of course we take some steps to protect animals from needless cruelty.”

Luna, visibly irate, replied, “Pardon me, Mr. President. Slavery is inherently cruel and wrong. You can make the cage large, well furnished, and the bars golden. The fundamental truth is that if one is not free to come and go and do as one wishes one is a slave.”

“I understand, your majesty,” replied the American President, trying desperately to defuse the situation. “However, you understand the moral difference between enslaving animals who aren’t intelligent and those-”

“Actually, I don’t. The intelligence of a creature doesn’t determine whether or not they get to enjoy the blessings of liberty. Your own Constitution says that the ‘rights endowed by the Creator are inalienable.’ In the biography that was presented to me by my aides, it said that you were the only American President to not graduate from college in the past 50 years. Would you like someone else taking away your liberty?”

Truman’s anger was boiling up inside of him. The fact that he hadn’t been able to graduate from college had been fodder for his political opponents to attack him during his entire life in politics. However, once his anger subsided, he began to understand what the dark blue equestrian was saying. He suddenly felt ashamed at how his nation, no his own species must look like to the Equestrian people.

“You’re right, Princess Luna. I want you to understand something. Our country isn’t perfect and is full of inconsistencies. Last year, even as our young men were fighting to destroy one of the most barbarically racist governments in history, they were fighting in racially segregated military units. We couldn’t even let our boys fight and die together.”

Turning to look her in the eyes, Truman continued, “In our Constitution, we don’t claim to be a perfect nation. We never will be one. But we strive for as a country is to ‘be a more perfect union.’ There are problems in both of our countries. But I want us to work together going into the future. I hope that we can strive to make our respective countries better and kinder.”

“Perhaps someday, Your Majesty, the ponies of our country will be able to live free just like they do in your country. I simply ask for your nation’s forgiveness for any transgressions we may do against ponykind or other animals and for your nation’s hand in friendness.”

Luna was moved by the President’s words. While she was still repulsed by mankind's treatment of animals the world over, she realized one thing. Despite the problems within America, it unlike many other countries, had proven itself capable of fixing its own shortcomings. That was why this very memorial existed. It wasn’t a mere memorial to a great man to lead a great nation. It was a testament to the capability for a nation founded on a great ideal to right its wrongs.

“On behalf of Equestria I accept your nation’s friendship,” said Luna. “The ideals that have guided your nation have inspired me. I hope that during the course of the next month, I can come to learn more about them. Who knows, maybe Equestria could use some of them.”

“I think I know just the place for you to pursue your studies of our nation’s government,” replied Truman.