He became not only a dead weight, but a definite opponent of social progress.

He faithfully heard the politician on the stump praise him for virtues that he did not have.

The politicians told him that he lived in the best state in the Union; told him that the other politicians had some hare-brained plan to increase his taxes, told him as a consolation for his ignorance how many of his kinsmen had been killed in the war, told him to distrust any one who wished to change anything.

What was good enough for his fathers was good enough for him.
Thus the 'forgotten man' became a dupe, became thankful for being neglected.

And the preacher told him that the ills and misfortunes of this life were blessings in disguise, that God meant his poverty as a means of grace, and that if he accepted the right creed all would be well with him.