75 



in the island of San Juan. The squatter very properly shot the 

 hog, and subsequently resisted by force of arms, an order for his 

 arrest. This caused a threatened Avithdrawal of protection from 

 Indian depredations to the American settlers, by the Hudson's 

 Bay Company. An appeal Avas made to General Harney, ^vho in 

 wilfulness and obstinacy was equal to any hog that ever squealed, 

 for protection ; in comphance with which, that hot headed officer 

 sent Captain Pickett and two companies of United States infantry 

 to the place, causing an uproar as if all the inmates of the sty had 

 been let loose, and which only the prudence and energy of Gen- 

 eral Scott could quell. 



Of the -poUtics of the hog there may be some doubt. He cer- 

 tainly is not an aristocrat — he does not belong to the ruffleshirted 

 or silk stocking gentry, but is evidently partial to the sayis cuUotte 

 fashion, and prides himself as being one of the great unwashed 

 awinisk multitude. Yet he can hardly be called a Democrat or a 

 Whig. He urges no claim to the name or doctrines of a modern 

 Republican, and he knows too much to be dubbed a Know- 

 Notliinij. 



The hog has no claim to the character of a worId)i(j-man, for 

 industry is not his hobby. Like Rip Van Winkle, he has an 

 aversion to all kinds of profitable labor. Indeed it was said by a 

 sagacious foreigner while visiting our shores, that the Jiog is the 

 only real gentleman to be seen. Everybody else, including the 

 horse, the dog and the cat, work for their living, while the hog 

 leads a life of luxury and ease. 



Neither is the hog a leveller or a communist, for he does not 

 acknowledge equal rights and privileges, but acts on the grab 

 principle, or " first come, first served," and " he who gets most is 

 the best fellow." He turns up his nose at political platforms, 

 would snap his fingers, if he had any. at the Union and the Con- 

 stitution, and considers a long string of resolutions as little better 

 than gammon. At the Presidential election in 1856, the hog 

 Avas decided in his political preferences. Very often during the 

 campaign, and especially after having finished his scanty break- 

 fast, when his trough, empty and polished, had become an ex- 

 liausted receiver, he would turn up his sparkling eyes to his 

 |)atron, and by beseeching looks and pathetic tones, declare him- 

 self ready to " go the whole hog" in favor of fill-more. 



At this time, when the tempest of party strife sweeps over the 

 land, and when searching infjuiries are made by disinterested pol- 

 iticians into the political preferences of an animal whose physical 

 proportions and respectability of character would add innnense 

 weight to any party, it is found that the hog, although in some of 

 his acts indicating a marked preference, has not fully committed 

 himself in favor of either of the four Presidential candidates. Ho 

 cares little for Breckinridge, and Lincoln is altogether too lean 



