This item symbolizes enforcement and respect, and means that justice stands by its decision and ruling, and is able to take action. The fact that the sword is unsheathed and very visible is a sign that justice is transparent and is not an implement of fear.
It was the KKK (Ku Klux Klan) that supported the actions shown in Cartoon during Reconstruction.
Benjamin Zander's main goal in this video, The Transformative Power of Classical Music, is to show how much impact a piece of music can have on the mind. He makes the point that music is just frequency.