58 DUTIES OF THE STATE IN REGARD TO FORESTRY. 



They were thus created free citizens in all civilised States, 

 possessing equality before the law and to a certain extent 

 equal political rights ; in the latter respect, some differences 

 still exist due to position and property. 



The forces by which public order is maintained are 

 (1) education, moral sense and custom which assert them- 

 selves in an unobtrusive manner, and (2) social associations 

 which are parti}' voluntary, that is to say, it is free to any one 

 to join or not, and partly compulsory. Of the latter, the most 

 important is the State which represents all inhabitants who 

 live within its limits. 



The State authorities exercise the supreme power within the 

 limits of the State territory to whom all persons and goods 

 are subjected ; they make laws which are binding on all alike. 



The State has various duties to perforin. In the first place, 

 it must make laws which limit the action of the individual, 

 with the object of securing their rights to all citizens and of 

 protecting them against illegal interference of any kind ; it 

 must also maintain such laws. The Government of the State 

 rests sometimes with the ruler only ; in other cases the 

 representatives of the people exercise the supreme power ; 

 between these extreme cases many intermediate forms are 

 found. By the general laws of a country limits are drawn, 

 within which full liberty is given for individual development 

 and through it for the advancement of the welfare of the 

 whole community. 



The action of the State must fre(iuently also aim at directly 

 fiirtJirri)tg the welfare of the people, by removing obstacles 

 which obstruct the development of the individual, or by creat- 

 ing institutions which strengthen his working power. In this 

 respect, State action is called for where the power of the 

 individual is not sufficient to attain objects which are essen- 

 tial for social development ; where the advantages to be 

 derived are not sufficient to induce individuals to take up the 

 task ; where free action on the part of the individual endangers 

 the interests of the community as a whole, or when' it is 



