Thilges Ministry

With the exception of the bankruptcy of the Banque Fehlen & Cie in 1886, which had not recovered from the losses from the fall of the Banque nationale, the period of 1885-1889 went over without conflicts.^[1] The public finances under Mathias Mongenast were improved.^[1] The development of the Zollverein and the boom of the steel industry assured ever-growing revenues for the State.^[1] Important resources were invested in the expansion of the network of local railways.^[1] As an authentic liberal, Édouard Thilges advocated the non-intervention of the state in the functioning of the economy, even when some sectors ran into difficulties: "The government must lend support to all measures which may encourage the development of industry and trade in a general manner; but it must not intervene in favour of particular businesses […]. If we did something for one establishment ruined through their own fault, what would be our position towards other establishments, towards individuals who due to unexpected events find themselves in a difficult situation?"^[1]

• Thewes, Guy (2011). Les gouvernements du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg depuis 1848 (PDF) (in French). Service Information et Presse. pp. 48–51. ISBN 978-2-87999-212-9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2016.