It Is Our Oyster

Washington, Aug. 1 - One of the oldest in service and most experienced of our consuls, Mr. Plumacher, at Maracaibo, has made a report of groac intorest to the tate departmenr, speakinsr freely oí the troubles Venezuela has had with European nations eeking to soize upon her territory and substance, and pointing out in strong language the splendid opportunity open to the United States to extend our trade with Venezuela at the expjuse of otlior nations. The cónsul says that thu piist year has been an eventful one for Venezuela in her efforts for politioal reorganización. He describos the opportunity losi by the United States from L89J 10 1S94, owing to the ref usal of the V.nczuelans to accept the reoiprocity propositions of the United States, but says thut sinci; the duties were decreased he notes a slight ïinprovement, the eiports to New York inureasmg f rom $4,000,U00 to$7,5U0.000. Ueriuaut Are in JLittle Favor. He atributes the deprussion In zuela to the ünuncial and politica! views oí thut country, and says that ií the present crisis passes the United States will huve a grac advantuge owing to the diplomatic compiicatiunn with Germany and Great Britaiu, our commercial rivals. "The Germana," he says, "are looked upon wn-h but little favor on account of the threat to send Germán iron ciada to Latruayra to eniorce the payment of a subsidy duethe builders of the principal Venezuelan railway. The popular feeling on this point was intensilied by a Buggestion in a leading newspaper that the Gerinans knew very well that such payment was an impossibility, as the country wa3 stapgering under the burdens of the late war, and that thoy neither expected nor desired payment but, enoouraged by the eüimple of Great Britain, they probabiy imagined thac it might be possibie to secure a part of the rich guano territory as an indemnity. Ji.hii Hall Intensoly Hated. "The feeling sgainst Great Britlan is now most intense throughout Venezuela. Piuuphlets and newspapers are coustantly being published respeccing British aggressions, bul as they lio not circuíate outside the councry the world at large is not acquainted withthe state of feeling " Plumacher says that on these accounts the United States Í3 in niueh favor, eajecially as Venezuela, as never bet'ore ooking to the Uuiced States for oounoil and guidanoe, ,tha people of the country would prefer to trade with the United States. New York is but sii days from ihe Venezuelan coast. He adds: "It is to Amencans also that Venezuela looks today ior the development of her great natural resources, and the eovernnient would be glad to grant most favorable concessions to companies or individuals 'rom the United Scates who come in good faith lor thar, purpose."