Americans: Can you please explain the origins of the Democratic mule & the Republican elephant?

Political cartoonist Thomas Nast made it up. http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/06/history_of_the.php

Cheers! Refreshing to see politicians with a sense of humour. I am duly enlightened.

As a proud liberal I feel the need to point out that it’s a donkey, not a mule.

@Snarp Do you have a link to the origins of the elephant? That one has the origins of the donkey but not the elephant.

@Arisztid
It’s from the same cartoonist, if that helps any.

Same cartoonist, same time. Apparently the same cartoon. Wikipedia claims this is the first appearance of the elephant, and it is labeled Republican vote, perhaps symbolizing excessive power in the form of the mad elephant.

I like the democratic donkey in lion’s clothing. Man, things haven’t changed much since 1874.