de' (the road of loving hearts) and the names of those that built
it. 'In perpetuam memoriam,' we say, and speak idly. At least so long as
my own life shall be spared, it shall be here perpetuated; partly for my
pleasure and in my gratitude; partly for others; to continually publish
the lesson of this road."

Addressing himself to the chiefs, Mr. Stevenson then said:--

"I will tell you, Chiefs, that, when I saw you working on that road, my
heart grew warm; not with gratitude only, but with hope. It seemed to me
that I read the promise of something good for Samoa: it seemed to me, as
I looked at you, that you were a company of warriors in a battle,
fighting for the defence of our common country against all aggression.
For there is a time to fight, and a time to dig. You Samoans may fight,
you may conquer twenty times, and thirty times, and all will be in vain.
There is but one way to defend Samoa. Hear it before it is too late. It
is to make roads, and gardens, and care for your trees, and sell their
produce wisely, and, in one word, to occupy and use your country. If you
do not, others will."

The speaker then referred to the Parable of the Talents, Matt. xxv.
14-30, and continuing, impressively asked: "What are you doing with your
talent, Samoa? Your three talents, Savaii, Upolu, and Tutuila? Have you
buried it in a napkin? Not Upolu at least. You have rather given it out
to be trodden under feet of swine: and the swine cut down food trees and
burn houses, according to the nature of swine, or of that much worse
animal, foolish man, acting according to his folly. 'Thou knewest that I
reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed.' But God
has both sown and strawed for you here in Samoa; He has given you a rich
soil, a splendid sun, copious rain; all is ready to your hand, half
done. And I repeat to you that thing which is sure: if you do not occupy
and use your country, others will. It will not continue to be yours or
your children's, if you occupy it for nothing. You and your children
will in that case be cast out into outer darkness, where shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth; for that is the law of God which passeth
not away. I who speak to you have seen these things. I have seen them
with my eyes--these judgments of God. I have seen them in Ireland, and I
have seen them in the mountains of my own country--Scotland--and my
heart was sad. These were a fine people in the past--brave, gay,
faithful, a