BARA, brill, JULES (1835-1900 ) . A Belgian statesman. 1-le was born at •ournay, and pur sued the study of law in his native town, show ing remarkable intellectual gifts and a fine power of oratory. Shortly after he had begun the practice of his profession. he was summoned to he professor of law at the University of Brus sels, and presently established his reputation by a treatise on the relations of Church and State. He was chosen to the House of Deputies from Tonrnay in 1862, and affiliated himself with the Liberal party, then under the leadership of Frere•Orban. In the fierce conflicts between Liberals and Catholics, Barn speedily obtained a reputation as one of the most effective de baters in the Chamber, and upon the resignation of Teseh as Minister of Justice in 1865, lie was appointed by the King to that position. In line with his extremely Liberal tendencies, he attempted, in 1808, to bring about the abolition of capital punishment, but failed because of a powerful opposition in the Senate; in the following year, however, he succeeded in effect ing the abolition of imprisonment for debt.
After the fall of the Frere-Orban Cabinet in 1870. Barn reentered the Chamber of Deputies, and by his great power of invective, caused the resignation of the Clerical Ministry of d'Anethau in 1871, and helped to overthrow the Ministry of Malou in ISM'. This was followed by the acces sion of the Liberals to power, and Barn be came once more Minister of Justice under Frere Orban, resigning in 1884 after the overwhelming defeat of the Liberals at the polls. From 1884 to I894 he was leader of the opposition in the Lower Chamber, but in the latter year failed of re6leetion, entering the Senate soon afterwards. He died at Brussels. June 26, 1900.