The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-06
Origin OF the Phrase " Going the Whole Hog
-Mahomct and mr.. Clay.

1t is generally supposed that this expression is
an Americanism and of American origin. We be-
heve, however. that this is mistak, and that, al
though the phrase has obtained greater currency
in this country than in any other, owing to the dis
position OF our people to take up with expressive
andsententious metaphorical expressions, the ORR
gin ofthe saying in question is to be traced to Tur
key, and is derived from an article of the creed
of Mahomet. 1t is well known that Mahomet
copied largely from the Jews, and engrafted, as
far as he was able, and the times in which he
lived would allow, many of their institutions into
his own policy Thus, among other things, he re-
CURED all his disciples to undergo circumcision
The fact is, Mahomet was half Jew. Now, he
was very DESTROYS to prohibit in his new religious
code the eating of pork, after the manner OF the
Jews; but this was indeed difficult thing, as
many of the people who followed him were very
fond of pork and bacon. What did he do then |!
He showed consummate skill, both in attaining
his own desired end, in making the prohibition,
and yet in conciliatng the lovers of pork, by CIV
ing them chance of indulging occasionally in a
feast upon their favourite dish. The plan he hit
upon was the following HE prescribed it as a
religious duty that every Mahometan should alb
stain from pork on pain of damnation, and at the
same time said that there was, however, one
small clean part of the animal which might be
eaten. He took care, however, not to mention
what that part was; and the consequence is, that
among the religious Turks, one eats one part,
and another eats another-each one believing
that the part he eats is the permitted part; and
SO among them all; one eating one part and an
other another, they eat up, or go the whole hog.
Mahomet showed in this, his profound know
ledge of human nature for, by allowing the
dainty gourmands among his flock to eat a little
bit, and forbidding the rest, he united, at one
and the same time, both prohibition and permits
sion; thus pleasing the bigots and pleasing
the gourmands' appettes. Hence the origin
OF the phrase "going the whole hog" which
is as much to say, eff you take a lit
tie you might as we'll take all'' The melan-
choly poet Cowper, the facetious author of "John
Gilpin," has made the Mahometan rule of faith
more familiar to the world and perhaps originated
the phrase here referred to, in that pretty little
poem of his, beginning
"Tbus saith the prophet Of the Turk
Good Mussleman. abstain from pork go.
Now Mahometi is not The only statesman who has
shown his art in leaving little loop-hole where
by he may admit the very thing to be done which
he Fretends to say ought not to be done. AS Ma
homet said to his followers: " Don't eat pork; by
no means touch it; if you do you are lost and
ruined But-yet-you may take very little
bit''-so in the very same manner, the great
statesman Of Kentucky says to his followers {:
"Don't touch Mexlco-give up Mexico-if on
hold Mexico it will ruin you. But-yct-you
may take San Francisco
Now. we hold that it is just as good, honest,
and proper to eat the whole hog, as to eat little
slice of it, and we maintain it is just as honest
and proper to hold all Mexico, as to take little
bit In other words, of those who say take it
ALL" and ofthose who say with Mr.. Clay, " only
take San Francisco, - the former are unquestion-
ably the most honest and most rational