|
who met death during the Reign of Terror were worthy ecclesiastics, and died martyrs for the faith. This was perhaps to some degree at least, owing to the fact that Louis XVI was an easy-going monarch and probably did not interfere with the right of the pope to appoint prelates and the result was the bettering of the morale of prelates and clergy.
So subversive of the rights of the pope to freedom of action in the appointment of prelates has been the interference of civil rulers, that Pius IX once said, "The United States is the only country in which I am really pope in the eyes of the government," and from the beginning of the American Revolution every pope has been the friend of the American Republic.
The Thwarting of the Military Prospects of Prince Demetrius.
Prince Demetrius having secured through the influence of friends a commission in the Austrian army was preparing to enter upon a military life when in 1790 the Emperor of Austria died suddenly, it was believed by poison placed in his food by an emissary of the Illuminati, a revolutionary organization which it was believed was plotting the assassination of all the rulers of Europe, an order was Issued by the Austrian government that thereafter no foreigners should be received into the armies of the empire, young Gallitzin was courteously but firmly informed that his services could not be accepted.
The young prince was now a Roman Catholic and in addition to his original Christian name - Demetrius - had received as his confirmation name, at the request of his mother, that of the great Bishop of Hippo - Augustine - so he had no desire to go to the land of his father, and never set foot on Russian soil.
It was at that time, as it is now, considered proper for young men of means before entering upon the activities of life to travel extensively, and as Europe was then in a turmoil from the effects of the French Revolution, it was deemed by the parents of the young prince expedient that he should travel in the United States and South America. Prince Demetrius who had met and formed a friendship for John Adams, American Ambassador Plenipotentiary at the Hague and had also a great admiration for President
|
