208 PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 
is sacrificed. This should be prohibited by law with severe penalties, except where 
it is the honest intent to clear the land for agriculture. 
THE RIGHTS OF A STATE. 
The American nation was founded upon the principle of the right of a ma- 
jority to rule, and it has long been held that the rights of the public, or a majority, 
are paramount to those of an individual or a minority. 
The State guarantees to all her citizens the peaceful occupation of their 
homes, the privilege of public worship, the transportation of productions over 
public highways, and authorizes transportation companies to build railways. For 
the convenience of the public, courts are maintained to insure the public peace 
and for the preservation of personal rights: the press and the people are allowed 
free speech; elections are held and the majority choose their legislators. In 
return the State demands of every citizen his share of taxes for support of the 
government, and that he shall obey the laws as created by the legislative authority 
which he has helped to choose. 
If private property is required for highway purposes, the State takes posses- 
sion of it. When a railway is to be built, no individual may stand in the way 
because of his title deeds. Here the rights of the public are supreme. 
Every nation claims the right to possess itself of property required for forti- 
fications or for military purposes. 
The childless citizen pays taxes to educate the children of his neighbors, and 
all through the customs of State and nation the rights of the community is held 
beyond those of the individual. 
Whatever will promote the best interests of the entire community, now or in 
the future, should govern all citizens at all times. And that which promises to 
seriously injure the interests of the State at preserit or in future may be prevented 
by legislation. 
If it be determined by the state that its territory shall be made a permanent 
source of income by the retention of the forests in order that the manufacturing 
industries may not be destroyed, that its naval stores trade may not be driven away. 
and that the future citizens of the State, who are to occupy the land, enact the 
laws and maintain the organization during the vears to come, shall have the bene- 
fits of the forests and enjoy them, then the State clearly possesses the power and 
right to demand of its citizens that they refrain from unnecessary destruction of 
the forest property, which is the wealth of the commonwealth. 
All the countries of Europe have adopted this principle of forest conserva- 
tion and perpetuation; why should America not act as wisely? 
