Salt Lake Tribune | 1917-11-22 | Page 6 | Better Not

BETTER NOT. The .Spanish government ha? issued a special warning that Spain. -would repaid re-paid any flight of American airplanes over her territory as a violation of neutrality neu-trality and would instruct the military to fire upon such airplanes." Ye do not for an instant suppose that there is any intention upon the part of the United -States government to violato the neutrality of any of the European nations by the use of airplanes or otherwise. oth-erwise. So we think the Madrid manifesto mani-festo is entirely , unnecessary and unwarranted. un-warranted. We also suspect that it, was issued to show the sympathy of the Spanish government with the central powers in return for the open hostility of Germany to the United States during dur-ing the Spanish-American war. Consequently Conse-quently we do not take kindly to such warnings at a time when the sacrifice of American lives on the battle front in France is just beginning. From this time until the close of the war the patriotic citizens of the United States will be compelled to carry a large-sized share of the burdens-jf the entire world upon their shoulders and the Spanish dons would do well to exhibit as little sympathy for the German Ger-man vons as possible, especially if suh ' exhibitions are aceomjvuiiod by threats to take the lives of American soldiers or sailors who might possibly lose their bearings and fly over some, portion of Spanish territory. This country has been called upon to make enormous sacrifices for the human race and while we are engaged in throttling the Teutonic Teu-tonic dogs of war any little dogs of neutrality that snap at our heels are in danger of receiving such a kick that they will be cured of the habit. Mere showing of the teeth. upon the part of Spain is enough to put Americans upon guard and if any overt act is committed j punishment will swiftly follow, j Our boys in blue freed Cuba from j Spanish tyranny after 400 years of op-j op-j pression. The Philippines we were com-! com-! polled to take during the war and we have been responsible for the welfare of 10,000,000 human beings in the islands ever since. But we treated the Spaniards generously by turning $'20,-000,000 $'20,-000,000 into the Spanish treasury. "We sacrificed thousands of American lives and spent hundreds of millions of dollars dol-lars for the good of humanity. If the Spanish statemen believe the kaiser is going to win the present war and think they see a chance to reverse the verdict of twenty years ago, now is their opportunity. op-portunity. Neutrality warnings are not necessary so far as the United States is concerned.