Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/101

 ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT 75 in his inaugural address and in his first annual message to congress he took strong ground in favor of an effort to &quot;civilize and Christianize&quot; the In dians, and fit them ultimately for citizenship. His early experience among these people, while serving on the frontier, had eminently fitted him for in augurating practical methods for improving their condition. He appointed as commissioner of Indian affairs the chief of the Six Nations, Gen. Ely S. Parker, a highly educated Indian, who had served on his staff, and selected as members of the board of Indian commissioners gentlemen named by the various religious denominations throughout the country. Although such men were not always practical in their views, and many obstacles had to be overcome in working out this difficult problem, great good resulted in the end ; public attention was attracted to the amelioration of the condition of our savage tribes; they came to be treated more like wards of the nation, were gathered upon gov ernment reservations, where they could be more economically provided for, the number of Indian wars was reduced, and large amounts were saved to the government. The 15th amendment to the constitution, adopted February 26, 1869, guaranteed the right of suf frage without regard to race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It was ratified by the requisite three fourths of the states, and declared