His plan was this: 

He would unearth the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, confront the Senate with that, and as it deals very directly with matters that concern both arbitration and the canal, Senator Morgan was sure that it would give the Senate enough food for discussion to last it through this session of Congress, without touching the Treaty again.

The Clayton-Bulwer treaty was made between Great Britain and the United States in 1850.

One part of the treaty stipulates that neither Great Britain nor the United States shall ever control the Nicaragua Canal, nor build forts along it.

When this treaty was made, Nicaragua had given the right to build the canal to an American company.  This company did not belong to the government; it was a mere business undertaking by a business firm.

The company did not build the canal; the work required too much money, and the affair fell through.

At the present time it is the American Government that proposes to build the canal, and if the Government is to put in the enormous sums of money that will be needed, it is only right that the Government shall control it.  Nicaragua is not wealthy enough to build the canal herself, and if we do not undertake it, some other country will, and it will certainly expect the control of the canal in return for the money invested.

Senator Morgan asked the Senate to consider the matter of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, and decide whether or no we are still bound by it, before the Arbitration Treaty be signed.  He insists that if the Senate decides that the Clayton-Bulwer treaty is still binding, England must agree to release us from it before we can discuss another treaty, as it is too absurd to suppose that we will put our money into the canal and have no right to control it.

In the time that must be taken up in the consideration of this very important point.  Senator Morgan will have time to get his bill properly considered, and with the new light that he has thrown on canal affairs through the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, he is more likely to get his bill passed.

* * * * *

There is news of a great victory for the Cubans, which is called one of the most brilliant successes of the war.

It was won by General Gomez.

He set out to lay siege to the town of Arroyo Blanco.

When he arrived before the town, he sent word to the mayor that he was about to open fire with his dynamite-gun, and he requested that all the women, children, and non-fighting men should be sent out of the city.

In accordance with the rules of civilized warfare, he sent a permit for these people to pass out of the town in safety.

He waited several hours for a reply.  None being sent, he ordered his gunners to send one shot over the city.

This having been done, and still no answer coming from the Spanish commander, General Gomez sent a fresh messenger, asking the mayor, for the sake of humanity, to send the women and children out of the town as quickly as possible.