The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-23 00:00:00

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

STAFFORD.-At a meeting of tho Liberal electors a letter
was read from Mr. Arthur Bass, one of the present mem-
bers, expressing, a wish to be liberated from his engagement
to contest the borougb, as he had been advised io stand for
East Staffordshire in conjunction with Mr. M'Clean. The
meeting gave its assent.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY. —A powerful committee has been
formed at Oxford to promote the election of Sir Roundell
Palmer. The Warden of New College is chairman, and
seven other Heads appear in the list. Sir W. Erle, Sir John
Coleridge, Dean Stanley, Dean Hook, Mr. Cardwell, and Sir
Robert Phillimore are amongst those whl have signified
their willingness to become members of a London com-
mittee.

MANCHESTER.—The Conservatives have resolved on bring-
ing forward two candidates. Mr. Joseph Hoare, of London,
will issue his address in a day or two, and it is expected
hatt Mr. Henry Gartside, of Saddlewortb, will be his col-
league.

SOUTH ITANTS.—Mr.IIWard, a barrister, and whose
seat was once the residence of the well-known William
Cobbett, at Loney, in Hants, is announced as the second
Liberal candidate for the southern division of the county.
GREENwicn.—By the advice of meny of his supporters,
Alderman Salomous has agreed to coalesce with Mr. Glad-
stone. Tho return of both these gentlemen may now be con-
sidered a certainty, the Liberals being united. The Conser-
vatives do not intend to fight the borough.
Irswicu.—A requisition has been rresented to Mr. Cob-
bold, the mayor of the town, :11cing him to come forward as
a Ccnservative candidate. Mr. Cobbold has refused the re-
quest, assigning as a reason that the requisition was not
signed by all sections of the patty.

LIVIMPOOL.—it is stated that a local gentleman, named
itnpson, intends to offer hinmlf as an "Independent Tory"
candidate. The Conservatives have already forwarded two
candidates; Mr Graves, ono of the sitting members, and
Lord Sandon.

BRISTCL.—It is understood that Mr. J. M. Miles, who held
the seat for a short time lat,t sessiun after the retirement of
Sir Morton Pete, again be brought forward, and that
the party aro now eelit;!: ming. whether they will associate
a second candidate with Mr, M.PCH, Qr merely attempt to
Otirs9Mlticp,

OXFORD UNIVERSITY.—The Daily News states that Sir
Roundell Palmer will not resign his seat for Richmond in
order to contest Oxford University. His friends at Rich-
mond will adopt a similar course to that which was taken
by Mr. Hardy's supporters at Leominster in 1865, and will
return the hon. and learned gentleman for the borough
which he now represents, irrespective of what may take
place at the university.

MARYLEBONE.— Mr. Daniel Grant, of Cleveland-gardens,
Hyde Park, offers himself as a candidate. He states that
he is a Liberal in the broad sense of the term, and he
would support the repeal of the ratepaying clauses in the
Reform Act, the:adoption of the Ballot, and the perfecting
of the conditions which surrounds the lodger franchise.
This makes the fifth Liberal candidate. Mr. Stanford has
come forward in the Conservative interest.
ASHTON-UNDER-LTNE.—It is announced that Mr. Thomas
Mellor, of Ashton-under-Lyne, has consented to come
forward for that borough in the Conservative interest, in
opposition to Mr. Milner Gibson.
NORTH WILTS.—Sir Henry Hoare's attention having
been drawn to a statement that he was to be invited to
stand as a second Liberal candidate for North Wilts, the
hc n. baronet announces that he has no intention of aban
doping his candidature for Chelsea.
GLASGOW.—A public meeting was held on Tuesday in
the Merchants' Hall, Sir James Campbell, of Stratlicaro,
presiding. After Sir George Campbell, of Garscabe, had
stated his political views, embodying a general support of
the Government and the maintenance of the Irish
Church, it was unanimously resolved to nominate him
as the Conservative candidate for the representation of
the city.
LEOMINSTEB.--It is very probable that at the ensuing
election this seat will he lost to the Conservative party;
the Conservatives are divided, but the Liberals are
united. Both the Conservative candidates are determined
to go to the poll.
DURHAM.—The Right. Hon. J. R. Mowbray has issued
his retiring address to the electors of Durham. He says :
"It is not without a pang that I thus voluntarily bid fare-
well to a constituency whose cordial and undeviating support
has been accorded to me during sixteen sessions, and
throughout four Parliaments. Although threatened with
a contest at the ensuing election, I had every reason to
hope and believe that I should not have solicited in vain
the suffrages of an enlarged constituency."
NORWICH.—Mr. R. J. Harvey who has been
repeatedly invited to contest Norwich in the Conserva-
tive interest, has announced his definite intention not to
come forward.

ROCHESTEL—One of the Conservative candidates for
this city, Mr. Adolphus Henniker, has formally announced
his intention of retiring from the contest. The other Con-
servative candidate is Mr. A. Smee, F.R.S. Mr. P.
Wykeham Martin and Mr. Serjeant J. A. Kinglake,
recorder of Bristol, the present members, offer themselves
for re-election.

SOUTH ESSEL-Mr. Perry Watlington has declined to
contest South Essex as a Conservative candidate.

THE SPA NiSII REVOLUTION.
(nom A CORRESPONDENT.)

THE unanimity and moderation which have
hitherto characterised the Spanish Revolution still
prevail amid all the uncertainty as to the ruler to
which the future of the country will be entrusted.
Who will be the King of Spain is a problem to the
solution of which there is hardly the remotest clue.
But though the apparent want of a programme on the
part of the leaders would produce the most injurious
consequences in any other State, the work of
" reconstruction " still goes on. Liberty of the
person, the press, and, above all, of the conscience, have
been proclaimed. The terrible distress amongst the
lower classes is being relieved as far as the resources
of the Government will permit ; and it is no small tes-
timony to the success of the new regime that the
popular excesses reported are few and far between.
There can be little .doubt that the revolution, if it
continue as it has beg,un, will accomplish the regene-
, ration of Spain—and something more. The effect of
this great change upon slavery in the Spanish colonies
promises to be decisive. It is generally admitted that
freedom in Spain and slavery in her colonies are
incompatible. If, as is said, the Cuban slaveholders
have long expected the emancipation of the blacks,
it surely cannot be far distant now. We are told
that the great West India colony has long been pre-
', paring for the abolition of slavery by diminishing
hand labour and substituting powerful machinery.
A. commission of five of the • principal planters has
left Havana to confer with the Provisional
Government on the subject of emancipation.
It [is announced that the slaveholders are not averse
to it. All they ask is that the liberation shall be
effected gradually, and during a space of time
sufficient to prevent disaster., The Junta of
Madrid has declared against slavery. It has
not, however, taken any decisive steps in the
matter, but, whilst it leaves the great question to the
Government, it recommends that all children born
in bondage after the 17th of September 1868 shall be
declared free. This hesitation of the Junta to deal
with the existing slavery must not be unfairly inter-
preted. Spain has plenty of home trouble to
occupy her for the present and for months to come.
The people are not unnaturally averse to entering on
what may be a lengthy dispute with the Cuban
planters whilst so much remains to be accom-
plished at home. There are many difficulties
in the way of this as of all other such reforms.
Mpst important of all, the Spaniards are in no con-
dition to deal with their colonists' as we dealt with
ours. With an empty exchequer, a large deficit, and
the most pressing need of money for the relief of the
distress prevailing throughout the country, Spain
cannot at present pay large sums for the freedom of
the slave. The Junta had no resource but to refer
the main question to the Government. It is, however,
something gained to be assured that no slave will in
the future be born in a Spanish colony. The general
opinion that the rest will follow in good time is well
founded. is a material gain in the interests of
humanity, emancipation in the Spanish colonies
would be much. They contain 500,000 negroes. But
as a moral gain this step would be more important,
for Spain is the only European State that now holds
the negro in bondage.