EDITORIAL: Boris Yeltsin.(Editorial)

Apr. 25--In the hours after the world learned of the death of Boris Yeltsin, one image of the former Russian president, the country's first democratically elected leader, was seemingly everywhere -- that of Mr. Yeltsin standing atop a Soviet tank in 1991, defying the leaders of a coup who wanted to keep their country forever under the yoke of communism. Fortunately for Russia, and the world, Mr. Yeltsin prevailed. His courage was matched only by his vision for his country as he led his fellow Russians into a new era of democratic ideals. Americans could only marvel back then at Mr. Yeltsin, a vibrant, confident leader who championed free markets and defended free speech; a …